Legislation
- Virginia lawmakers consider digital protections for children as app store accountability debate continues
Emily Harrison, a mother of two in the city of Roanoke, said federal lawmakers have not updated the country’s law to protect children’s online privacy in nearly 30 years, even as technology has changed dramatically.
- Eastern Shore leaders, residents dubious of mineral mining pitch. They have good reason to be.
The initial public comment period for an unprecedented proposal to mine minerals from the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia’s Eastern Shore ends on Saturday, Aug. 22.
- Hemp businesses ask federal judge to block Virginia’s new THC cap
THC-infused beverages produced by Nova Hemp are displayed at the company’s facility in Middletown.
- Virginia Approves Brown v. Board Scholarships for 2025-26 Academic Year
Virginia maintains the Brown v. Board of Education scholarship program with ongoing disbursements more than seventy years following the 1954 Supreme Court decision.
- November glut of school referendums signals necessity of taxing option in Virginia
If you wondered whether localities across Virginia desperately need another way to raise money to build new schools, take a look at the dozens of communities that will hold voter referendums in November.
- Louise Lucas slams data centers for paying construction workers too much
Virginia state senator Louise Lucas is a leading Democratic leader in Virginia.
- USDA advances Roadless Rule repeal; advocates, lawmakers say it puts 400,000 acres in Virginia at risk
The United States Department of Agriculture is nearing a full repeal of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects millions of acres of virgin forestland nationwide.
- Legislators didn’t allow local bans of gas-powered leaf blowers. Va. localities are doing it anyway.
A landscaper blows leaves off a lawn in preparation for annual “leaf pickups” by Fairfax County public services, October 31, 2023.
- Democrats’ Affordability Hoax Exposed as They Push Higher Power Bills
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia Democrats escalated their affordability hoax in yet another scheme that takes more money out of Virginian’s pockets.
- Records Show Purcellville Stopped Paying Town Manager Kwasi Fraser in June
Purcellville Town Manager Kwasi Fraser has not been paid by the town since June 4, according to documents obtained by Loudoun Now through a Freedom of Information Act request.
- House GOP Leaders: ‘What Happened to Making Life More Affordable for Virginians?’
What Happened to Making Life More Affordable for Virginians?
- General Assembly Republicans Call for Gas Tax Holiday
“Suspending the gas tax gives us a chance to provide immediate, tangible help to Virginians in the short term.
- Virginia House Democrats Kill Legislation to Reform Virginia Clean Economy Act
House Republicans presented a number of bills to House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #3 designed to prevent more than $450 million in 'deficiency fees' under the Virginia Clean Economy Act from being passed on to hard-working Virginia families.
- House Republicans Roll Out Affordability Done Right Agenda to Lower Costs for Virginians
“Democrats talk about affordability,” Kilgore said.
- General Assembly Republicans Call for Gas Tax Holiday
– After Democrats Fail to Deliver on Affordability, Republicans Offer Yet Another Real Solution – RICHMOND, VA – Today, House and Senate Republicans urged Democratic budget writers to provide relief to hard working Virginia families by suspending the state’s motor fuels tax.
- Virginia Measure Would Allow Local Rules on Gas Leaf Blowers
A legislative proposal before a subcommittee would give Virginia localities the option to regulate or restrict gas-powered leaf blowers over noise and emissions concerns.
- Virginia Budget Empowers Local Schools with $400.4 Million Flexible Supplement
The Virginia state budget for fiscal year 2027 includes a significant conservative victory for education funding through a one-time $400.4 million flexible supplement.
- ACLU of Virginia Endorses Prison Language Access Measure
Advocacy group backs HB553 to provide translation services and prevent unjust solitary confinement linked to language barriers in state prisons.
- Virginia Beach wastewater facility to turn biogas into power for thousands of homes
A rendering of the biogas collection facility that will be built on alongside a Hampton Roads Sanitation District wastewater treatment plant.
- Virginia Advances House Bill 40 on Undetectable Firearms
House Bill 40 would create a felony for manufacturing, selling or transferring firearms undetectable by standard security screenings at airports, schools and other public facilities.
- Warner seeks a final term as Mizusawa makes his case for change
Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (left) faces Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa in his bid for a fourth term in the Senate.
- Delegate Hodges Highlights Local Authority Over Affordable Housing Definitions
Virginia lawmaker explains why localities should set their own affordable housing terms in locally funded programs during CCT Subcommittee discussion.
- Congresswoman Kiggans Joins Discussions on Public Safety and Elections
Congresswoman Jen Kiggans of Virginia’s Second District took part in a discussion with FBI Director Kash Patel and Hampton Roads law enforcement officials focused on public safety topics.
- Virginia considers calls for mandatory school nurses as healthcare gaps persist
A school nurse listens to a young student.
- Virginia Advances House Bill 131 for Campus Religious Accommodations
House Bill 131 would require Virginia public universities to adopt and publish consistent policies granting students accommodations for religious observances along with clear grievance procedures.
- Virginia Senate Panel Weighs Venue Change for Check Fraud Prosecutions
Courts of Justice Committee reviews legislation allowing prosecutors to charge check washing and uttering offenses in the locality where victims reside.
- Virginia Bill Clarifies 'Shall' as Mandatory Duty in State Law
House Bill 1299 seeks to establish that the word shall creates a binding obligation in Virginia statutes unless otherwise specified, following court rulings that treated it as permissive.
- Virginia Senate Examines Limits on Police Drone Deployments
Lawmakers review legislation clarifying authorized uses of unmanned aircraft by law enforcement in emergencies and investigations.
- Virginia Subcommittee Weighs Whistleblower Anonymity Under Senate Bill 224
Finance panel examines whether tax fraud whistleblowers can stay anonymous while seeking rewards in proposed state legislation.
- Virginia Agribusiness Leaders Warn Against Uninspected Meat Sales
Agribusiness and cattlemen associations oppose legislation allowing uninspected meat, citing risks to public health and state inspection programs.
- Spanberger’s EO 22 Rewrites Virginia’s Data-Center Rules Without Declaring a Moratorium
The order bans new state NDAs, curbs VEDP help for big new loads, pushes noise and water reviews, and tees up 2027 legislation—while leaving local zoning fights intact.
- Governor Spanberger Announces Nearly $1.3 Million in Scholarships & Incentives for Nursing Students
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Spanberger today announced that the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center (VNWC) has awarded nearly $1.3 million in scholarships and incentives to nearly 350 prospective students across the Commonwealth.
- Virginia Senate Reviews SB 707 on Dog Debocalization Limits
A Senate subcommittee examines legislation to restrict surgical debocalization of dogs to medically necessary cases only.
- Governor Spanberger gives away $67 Million for Home Energy Efficiency Projects to receive only $15 Million in work
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced the release of more than $67 million in available Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds that were previously withheld by the Youngkin Administration.
- William & Mary Libraries receives NEH grant to preserve American Revolution-era materials
William & Mary Libraries is one of five institutions awarded the grant as part of a consortium.
- Who Can Be Inside Your Virginia Polling Place on Nov. 3, and Who Can't
Virginia law strictly limits who may be inside a polling place.
- Special Prosecutor Clears Franklin County Officials in Freedom of Information Act Probe
One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors.
- Legislation to force Virginia traffic camera fine payments will make ‘nightmarish’ court workloads
Signs in front of Granby High School in Norfolk, Va. warn motorists they may get a ticket if they're caught speeding by a camera.
- Crypto Kiosk Firm Backs Virginia Oversight Bill While Seeking Platform Parity Amendment
A representative for a crypto-kiosk operator testified before a Virginia legislative committee in support of most bill provisions but requested an amendment limiting rules to kiosks for equal treatment with online platforms.
- Virginia Advocates Discuss Extension of Eviction Notice Periods
A public hearing in Virginia featured testimony on a bill that would extend the notice period for certain eviction proceedings from five days to fourteen days.
- Vindman faces crowded field and economic pressures in Virginia’s 7th District Congressional race
Pictured from left are candidates for the seventh congressional district race in Virginia: U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Woodbridge, Republican Douglas Ollivant and Libertarian Taner Lopez.
- Virginia Advances Senate Bill 418 on Pharmacist Therapeutic Drug Substitutions
Senate Bill 418 authorizes Virginia pharmacists to substitute medications within the same therapeutic class to reduce costs or address shortages while remaining cost neutral.
- James City Delegate Advances Parking Enforcement Expansion Bill
A James City delegate moves companion legislation to update and extend permissive parking enforcement authority to every Virginia locality.
- Youth advocates warn higher marijuana fine could deepen racial disparities
Virginia lawmakers are weighing how increased penalties for public marijuana consumption could affect young people as the state prepares to launch legal retail sales in July 2027.
- Governor Abigail Spanberger Urges Congress to Set National Artificial Intelligence Guardrails
Letter to House and Senate leaders follows her Sept. 18 Virginia AI task force order; Spanberger warns jobs, privacy, and public resources cannot rely on company self-regulation alone.
- Luria and Kiggans rematch in Va.’s 2nd Congressional District among most-watched races in nation
From left to right: U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, Democrat Elaine Luria, and independents Bishop Staten and Matt Baker.
- Norfolk Public Schools Maps Rezoning as Four Elementary Campuses Prepare to Close
Norfolk is briefing families on fall 2027 rezoning for Granby, Lindenwood, P.B. Young, and Tarrallton elementaries, with bus routes still unsettled as consolidations proceed.
- JLARC Ordered to Study AI Policies Across Virginia’s Colleges and Universities
Laufer legislation tasks the legislature’s watchdog with a model policy covering integrity, privacy, access, transparency and faculty autonomy.
- Federal Judge Effectively Blocks New State Law Limiting Virginia's Cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Virginia from enforcing most provisions of a new law restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, allowing existing partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement to continue while the legal challenge plays out.
- As student well-being concerns grow, Va. advocates push for stricter school tech guidelines
Virginia parents and educators are urging leaders, including the Board of Education, to reduce excessive classroom screen time by considering a draft policy that prioritizes distraction-free learning, physical books, writing, and face-to-face interaction.
