Bills
- Virginia Implements Historic $600 Million Data Center Tax to Protect Ratepayers from Big Tech Grid Strain
The state of Virginia has officially implemented a first-of-its-kind statewide energy consumption tax on data centers within the FY2027 budget. This unprecedented measure is projected to generate up to $600 million annually by targeting the massive electricity usage of tech corporations. For years, conservative watchdogs have warned about the unchecked expansion of data centers and […]
- Prince William County Supervisors Adopt Budget with Reduced Real Estate Tax Rate
The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors recently approved a fiscal year budget that reduces the real estate tax rate while simultaneously expanding funding for local schools and public safety. Following extensive public hearings, the board voted to lower the real estate tax rate from $0.906 to $0.865 per $100 of assessed value for […]
- DEQ study throws cold water on data center development east of I-95
Among the many environmental, energy and economic concerns about the unconstrained spread of data centers in Virginia, the impact on drinking water supplies has ranked fairly low. That changed suddenly last week, with the release of a report that the administration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger seems to have tried to suppress. In compliance with […]
- Loudoun County Official Matt Letourneau Discusses County Subsidies for State Programs
Loudoun County Supervisor Matt Letourneau addressed the issue of counties providing support for responsibilities typically assigned to the state. His comments focused on the financial implications for local budgets. This topic arises as counties manage various programs that intersect with state requirements. The presentation included a reminder about defining surpluses only after all obligations a
- Spanberger takes unprecedented step to intervene in $67B Dominion-NextEra merger
Gov. Abigail Spanberger is stepping directly into the regulatory fight over the proposed $67 billion sale of Dominion Energy to Florida-based NextEra Energy, becoming the first Virginia governor to formally intervene in a case before the State Corporation Commission. Spanberger announced Thursday that she will seek intervenor status in the case, giving her administration the […]
- Manassas Park FY2027 Budget Funds Three Specialized City Positions Amid Overall Reductions
The City of Manassas Park has officially outlined its fiscal priorities for the upcoming year, placing a distinct focus on expanding specialized municipal staff. Within the newly structured FY2027 budget, local officials have secured funding for three new full-time positions aimed at modernizing city operations. These roles include an Enterprise System Administrator, an Emergency Operations […]
- Loudoun County Allocates $29 Million to Housing Fund Amid Budget Approval
Loudoun County officials have announced a massive financial commitment to address regional affordability with a newly proposed budget allocating twenty-nine million dollars to the local Housing Fund. This significant investment relies on the dedication of one cent of the real property tax rate alongside proceeds generated from the county cigarette tax. County administrators view this […]
- Fiscal Planning and the FY2027 Budget: Impacts on Manassas Parks and Recreation
The City of Manassas has officially adopted a massive $597.8 million budget for the fiscal year 2027, raising questions about how potential fiscal planning gaps could affect the efficient use of taxpayer funds. Local officials have emphasized a commitment to infrastructure and community resources, but the sheer scale of the financial plan requires meticulous oversight. […]
- Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam Discusses Working Relationships in Congress
Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, has noted his capacity to work effectively with progressive members of his party. These include individuals associated with efforts to reform or eliminate certain federal immigration enforcement mechanisms. Subramanyam assumed office in January 2025 after serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and
- Fairfax County Adopts $5.9 Billion Budget Highlighting Tax Rate Cut and Rising Homeowner Bills
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has officially adopted a $5.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, balancing a slight reduction in the real estate tax rate with rising property assessments. Despite a quarter-cent decrease in the tax rate to $1.12 per $100 of assessed value, the average residential tax bill will increase by […]
- Anti-Slapp law plays role in backing Va. teacher and parent targeted by false online accusations
A Northern Virginia court in June rejected social media efforts to damage the reputation of a teacher and parent, awarding them more than $1 million in combined damages. Robert Rigby Jr., a longtime educator and advocate for LGBTQ+ students, said after the leader of conservative political action committee Virginia Project posted unfounded accusations that he […]
- Loudoun County Approves FY2027 Budget Featuring $28.5 Million in Employee Compensation Increases
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has advanced a comprehensive $5.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes significant investments in the local government workforce. A central component of this newly structured financial plan is a $28.5 million allocation dedicated specifically to employee compensation increases across various county departments. This targeted funding aims to […]
- Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in Virginia
Just days before the Oregon Legislature in March passed a one-year pause on a popular tax incentive program for data centers, a group called Oregon Connects registered as a nonprofit business in the state. Then the ads started appearing. “From homes to hospitals to businesses, Oregon’s data centers are unlocking a smarter power grid for […]
- Virginia Advances Data Center Projects Amid Concerns Over Energy and Water
Virginia continues to move forward with plans for extensive data center facilities. Projections indicate these centers could double the state’s electricity demand. Water resources may also face additional pressures from the operations. Electric bills for residents are anticipated to rise under current trajectories. No detailed plan has been presented to manage the full scope of […]
- Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Pushes Record $17.21 Million Budget for Fiscal Year 2027
The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation recently announced a record allocation of $17.21 million for its Fiscal Year 2027 grant round. This unprecedented level of funding represents a massive expansion of a state program designed to purchase development rights and place permanent conservation easements on private property. Fiscal conservatives across the state are raising alarms about […]
- Fairfax County Adopts $5.9 Billion Budget with Focus on Affordable Housing and Economic Reserves
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently adopted a comprehensive $5.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 that balances slight tax rate reductions with targeted investments in community welfare. Central to this new financial plan is a substantial $8.8 million funding increase directed toward affordable housing initiatives. This significant financial injection brings the total baseline […]
- Virginia Senate Advances Budget Proposals Including Employee Salary Increases and Bonuses
The Virginia Senate has introduced budget measures that outline specific funding for compensation adjustments affecting state employees. Senate Bill 29 focuses on fiscal year 2026 while Senate Bill 30 covers the full biennium. These proposals include allocations for salary increases, a one-time bonus, and related benefits along with corresponding savings. ## Key Provisions in Senate […]
- Assessing the Massive Budget Allocations for James Madison University
As the Virginia state budget continues to expand, taxpayers are left footing the bill for massive university infrastructure projects that warrant intense financial scrutiny. James Madison University recently secured a staggering $30.5 million specifically allocated for the renovation and furnishing of Johnston Hall on the historic Quad. This massive appropriation raises serious questions about fis
- Late on rent? New Virginia law gives tenants more time and protection from eviction
Tamiaka Bryant has rebuilt her life from scratch before. She doesn’t want to have to do it again. Originally from North Carolina, Bryant saw her hometown of New Bern pummeled by Hurricane Florence in 2018. Flooding and heavy winds caused an estimated $100 million in commercial and residential damage, prompting the city to spend the […]
- Fairfax County Adopts FY2027 Budget with Lower Tax Rate but Higher Average Bills
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has officially adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget, introducing shifts in local taxation and revenue generation. While the overall real estate tax rate will see a slight reduction, most homeowners will still experience a net increase in their annual tax bills due to rising property values. This complex financial […]
- Fairfax County Faces Scrutiny Over ICE Detainer Declines and Local Crime Incidents
According to data compiled by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), Fairfax County declined 744 ICE detainers for criminal noncitizens held in local custody. CIS Director Jessica Vaughan noted that these included gang members, child predators, and sex offenders. The organization ranks Fairfax among the top sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide for such releases. Separate reports cite […]
- Virginia Taxpayers on the Hook for $136.1 Million as Lawmakers Eliminate Spending Caps on Private Day Schools
Virginia taxpayers are facing a steep financial burden as the state government allocates a staggering $136.1 million from the General Fund over the biennium for the Children’s Services Act. This massive influx of taxpayer dollars is intended to address soaring caseloads and the escalating costs of private day school placements for at-risk youth. However, fiscal […]
- Virginia’s Return to RGGI: A Costly Carbon Tax Disguised as Utility Relief
The recent passage of the Virginia state budget marks a controversial return to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a move that critics argue will unnecessarily burden hardworking taxpayers. Governor Abigail Spanberger has championed this re-entry, despite clear evidence that the program functions as a hidden carbon tax on everyday utility consumers. To mitigate the self-inflicted […]
- Virginia’s Forced RGGI Reentry: A Hidden Tax Masked as Utility Relief
Virginia taxpayers and utility customers are bracing for the fiscal impacts of the state’s forced reentry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative under the upcoming state budget. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently outlined a legislative plan to return a portion of the revenue collected from this controversial carbon cap-and-trade program directly to everyday consumers. While the […]
- Public college governing boards
Even after being ousted as the Virginia Military Institute’s first Black superintendent last summer, retired Major General Cedric Wins said Monday at a higher education-focused conference in Washington D.C. that by helping to examine and improve governing boards for Virginia’s public colleges and universities on a state commission, he is committing another act of service. […]
- Virginia joins rooftop solar initiative to help residents trim electric bills
On Monday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced that Virginia is partnering with the nonprofit Switch Together to help bring down the cost of solar array purchases for homeowners who want to install them on their homes. The governor framed the move as a way to help Virginians lower their utility bills. The organization acquires the solar […]
- Manassas Park Finalizes FY2027 Budget with Tax Rate Reduction and Maintained Cash Reserves
Local officials in Manassas Park have officially structured the municipal budget for fiscal year 2027, focusing on strategic financial reserves and targeted tax relief. The newly outlined financial plan features an overall budget total of $163,940,326, which represents a notable reduction from the previous fiscal year. Central to this new budget is a strategy that […]
- Virginia marijuana budget language triggers legal confusion, political fallout
Virginia’s decision to revive legal cannabis sales through the state budget instead of standalone legislation has triggered several days of confusion over the commonwealth’s marijuana laws, with lawmakers, local prosecutors, Virginia State Police and legislative officials offering differing interpretations of when key provisions take effect. Much of the confusion focused on two issues: whether Vi
- Rising Taxes and Enrollment Declines Highlight Need for Multi-Year Budget Projections in Manassas Park
Rising property values and a corresponding increase in tax bills are bringing local government finances into sharper focus for residents in Manassas Park, Virginia. While city and school leaders have outlined immediate budgetary needs, the apparent absence of comprehensive multi-year budget projections on official municipal websites is raising questions about long-term fiscal accountability. For a
- Virginia’s $1.94 Billion Data Center Giveaway: A Colossal Failure of Fiscal Restraint
The recently finalized Virginia budget reveals a staggering fiscal reality for hardworking taxpayers who are currently subsidizing the booming data center industry. While lawmakers publicly tout a newly implemented electricity consumption tax, they quietly retained a massive retail sales and use tax exemption for these technology giants through the year 2035. This corporate carve-out represents […
- SCC considers making data centers shoulder more of the cost of transmission lines
Transmission lines for a data center in Prince William County, VA. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) Consumer advocates have joined Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration to argue that high-load customers like data centers should pay for the high-voltage lines that solely serve them, a stance now playing out as part of Dominion Energy’s case with state […]
- Virginia Delegate’s Bill to Increase Penalty for Voluntary Manslaughter Fails in House Committee
The 2026 Virginia legislative session featured the introduction of House Bill 102 by Delegate Jason Ballard. This legislation proposed significant changes to the penalty for voluntary manslaughter in the Commonwealth. According to the summary as introduced, the bill aims to increase the penalty for voluntary manslaughter. Currently, this offense is classified as a Class 5 […]
- Virginia Bill Restricts Sources for Voter Registration Cancellations and Reinforces Military Voter Protections
The Virginia General Assembly has taken action on legislation that addresses the cancellation of voter registrations in the Commonwealth. Designated as House Bill 111, or HB111, during the 2026 Regular Session, this measure was introduced to regulate the sources of information that general registrars can utilize when deciding to remove a voter from the registration […]
- Virginia’s $17 Million Eviction Program Expansion Sparks Fiscal Concerns
The Virginia state budget recently advanced a massive expansion of taxpayer-funded housing subsidies, raising concerns among fiscal conservatives about runaway spending. Lawmakers allocated an astonishing $17 million for eviction prevention assistance over the biennium, vastly expanding the state’s footprint in private housing matters. This hefty appropriation represents a drastic expansion from t
- Bert Mizusawa Suggests Capital Gains Exclusion Update for Housing Relief
Senate candidate Bert Mizusawa has presented a proposal to modify capital gains tax exclusions related to the sale of principal residences as a means to address housing supply issues. The suggestion focuses on revising limits that have stayed fixed since the late nineteen nineties. This adjustment is intended to encourage more property transactions and expand […]
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam Votes Against KIDS Act Despite Having Children of His Own
As a parent in Loudoun County, Virginia, few issues hit closer to home than the safety of our children online. In an era where smartphones are ubiquitous and social media platforms dominate young lives, protecting minors from harmful sexual content, predatory interactions, and addictive algorithms should be a non-negotiable priority. Yet, on June 29, 2026, […]
- Democrats challenge Beyer in Va.’s 8th Congressional District, marred by federal layoffs
Everyone in Northern Virginia knows someone who was “DOGEd,” either laid off or otherwise impacted by sweeping cuts initiated through President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 federal workers; over 20,000 of them lost their jobs last year. The pain of those losses runs […]
- Spanberger joins governors in Abortion Alliance
From support for legislation and ballot referendums to helping states stockpile abortion and miscarriage management drug mifepristone, a growing cohort of governors are banding together as the Abortion Alliance. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Wednesday that she has joined the coalition. Members include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Gov. Wes Moore […]
- PJM gets green light to push data centers onto back-up power during heat wave
The nation’s largest electricity grid — which includes Maryland, Washington D.C, and a dozen other states — received a green light from the Trump administration on Tuesday to require data centers and other large customers to turn on back-up generators during this week’s heatwave. The order, signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, allows […]
- Spanberger signs assault weapons ban, package of criminal justice and energy bills
Gov. Abigail Spanberger late Thursday signed a sweeping package of legislation approved during the 2026 General Assembly session, including a ban on the future sale and manufacture of assault-style firearms, new restrictions of weapons in hospitals, marijuana sentencing reforms, voter roll maintenance changes and protections for immigrant workers. The assault weapons measure, one of the […]
- How Virginia became the world’s data center capital and how it’s going
Demand for internet access and electronic storage has grown alongside digital technology itself. At the center of that growth are the energy infrastructure and data centers that governments and companies began developing in Northern Virginia in the late 20th century. Today, the region houses the world’s largest concentration of data centers, making Virginia the nation’s […]
- Fairfax County Holds Real Estate Tax Rate Steady for FY 2026
Fairfax County has maintained its real estate tax rate at $1.085 per $100 of assessed value in the fiscal year 2026 adopted budget plan. This action continues the rate level that has remained unchanged since fiscal year 2022. The decision supports homeowner stability amid rising property assessments while funding essential county operations. Revenue projections estimate […]
- Mother Claims Retaliation in Franklin City School Board Plea Over Special Needs Child’s Removal
During the session, announced by the district on its website and social media, the mother approached the podium with supporting documents and described the sequence of events leading to her child’s placement elsewhere. She characterized the removal as an abuse of authority, questioning whether it represented the treatment parents receive for raising concerns. ‘This is […]
- Virginia schools push for local tax option as aging buildings strain rural divisions
Every time storms threaten the Tidewater region, Superintendent David Daniel worries the next round of severe weather could cripple Mathews County Public Schools’ aging environmental system, forcing classroom closures and creating safety risks for students. In one case, the storm did just that. Moisture overwhelmed the elementary school’s heating, ventilation and cooling system, causing water […]
- New law will enhance emergency response for people with disabilities
Two things inspired Del. Leslie Mehta, D-Chesterfield, the most when she sought public office: her now-deceased eldest daughter Brooke and her passion for healthcare policy. Both converged in the first piece of Mehta’s legislation to be signed into law by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. House Bill 1370, she said, is about “making sure that those with […]
- Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond as budget deadline nears
Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond this month for another attempt to reach a budget deal, with just days until the start of the new fiscal year and no agreement yet on the state’s next two-year spending plan. The House of Delegates is scheduled to reconvene its special session June 18 at 10 […]
- Is Dominion’s plan to merge with NextEra good or bad for Virginians?
Man, even the Pope doesn’t like data centers. In his new encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV laid out the dangers of the mad rush to replace humans with AI. Amid the concerns for the dignity and future of humanity, he took a moment to mention the environmental damage involved: Current AI systems require […]
- Resident Voices Financial Hardship at Warren County Supervisors Meeting Over Proposed Tax Increase
In his public comment, Jenkins stated he works six days a week, tithes at church, and pays his taxes diligently. He disclosed having only 75 cents in his bank account, attributing it to the demands of family life. Describing his current home as too small for his growing family, Jenkins noted the challenges posed by […]
- Abigail Spanberger signs bill forcing Virginia schools to add ‘Restorative Disciplinary practices’ before suspending students
Abigail Spanberger, the Virginia governor, signed into law a state bill that was passed by her Democratic colleagues. The bill prohibits public schools in Virginia from suspending or expelling a student before they have considered “restorative disciplinary practice” such as “peer mediation” and a “restorative circular.” Schools that do not use such practices are required […]
- Virginia set to rejoin RGGI as utilities prepare to pass the cost back to ratepayers
A natural gas-fired power plant. (Photo by Getty Images) Virginia is poised to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this summer, a move that could again add a monthly charge to electricity customers’ bills as utilities resume buying carbon credits. State officials expect the commonwealth to participate in the program’s September auction once regulations to […]