RICHMOND, Va (CBS19 NEWS) -- State legislators will be returning to a brand-new office building next time they gather in Richmond. The new General Assembly building will be opening to the public on October 11.

The General Assembly had planned to move into the new building last fall, but supply chain prevented that from happening in time for the 2023 session. The body decided to remain in the Pocahontas Building through at least this spring due to these delays. State Senator Creigh Deeds says it’s needed to have been replaced for a long time.

"We had fans in our office to keep the asbestos settled. Candidly, those of us who were elected to the General Assembly it's kind of an assumption of the risk you are willing to take, you knew what you were walking in to. Citizens come through that building by the bucket loads during the session and throughout the year. The new building will not only provide more room for the legislators, but it will provide much more, better accommodations for the public who comes to view and listen to the legislative process," said Deeds.

This is the first time the legislators will be back on the old building's footprint since they moved out in 2017.