Legislation
- Balancing Growth and Community Impacts Through Cost-Effective Infrastructure
Loudoun County and broader Northern Virginia face escalating demands for high-voltage transmission infrastructure to support the region’s dense concentration of data centers. Dominion Energy has advanced several projects, including elements of the Loudoun Reliability Loop linking the Aspen, Golden, Mars, and Wishing Star substations near Ashburn. These lines, operating at 500 and 230 kilovolts, ar
- Lawmakers call for special session to debate Dominion-NextEra merger
As the State Corporation Commission prepares to begin a months-long review of the potential merger of Virginia’s largest electric utility company Dominion Energy and the Florida-based NextEra Energy, two Republican state lawmakers on Tuesday urged Gov. Abigail Spanberger to host a special legislative session that would allow a vote to extend the review period. The […]
- Virginia Senate Reviews Proposal to Cap Tuition Increases at 2.5 Percent
The Virginia Senate is considering Senate Bill 30 which would limit annual tuition growth at public higher education institutions to 2.5 percent. This legislative proposal comes amid ongoing conversations about the costs associated with college attendance in the state. The bill seeks to establish a fixed percentage for allowable increases in tuition rates. Senate Bill […]
- Virginia House Bill Targets Reduction in Concealed Handgun Permit Fees
House Bill 106 was introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates during the 2026 Regular Session. The legislation proposes to amend and reenact Section 18.2-308.03 of the Code of Virginia, which pertains to concealed handgun permit fees. The main purpose of the bill is to lower the maximum fee charged by local law-enforcement agencies for […]
- UVA study shows how housing affordability policy, civic engagement and voter turnout connect
A University of Virginia professor’s research aims to illuminate how federal policy that supports affordable homeownership intersects with civic engagement via the ballot box, as housing affordability and access remain top concerns for voters in Virginia and across America. A new study titled “Mortgage Refinancing and Political Participation” explored how remedies in the aftermath of […]
- 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 Proposes $49.1 Million Increase in Personnel Services for FY 2027 Budget
Fairfax County is advancing a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes a significant net increase of $49.1 million allocated specifically for personnel services. This funding adjustment primarily accounts for the full-year financial impact of newly hired positions that were initially added during the previous fiscal cycle. Local administrators have crafted this financial […]
- Taxpayers Foot the Bill: Virginia Allocates $25 Million for Private Employer Childcare Program
Virginia taxpayers are now on the hook for a newly established $25 million pilot program designed to heavily subsidize childcare benefits for private employers. The initiative, funded directly from the general fund and slated for fiscal year 2027, represents a massive expansion of state involvement in private sector compensation. Critics argue that this Employee Child […]
- Virginia General Assembly Pushes $79.1 Million Taxpayer Bailout to Cover Expiring Federal Healthcare Subsidies
Lawmakers in Richmond are pushing forward a massive spending initiative that will cost Virginia taxpayers tens of millions of dollars to prop up expiring federal healthcare subsidies. Budget Amendment Item 478 heavily impacts the state budget by allocating a staggering $79.1 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 alone. This costly legislative measure […]
- Virginia Enacts New Law Prohibiting Bribery to Influence Voter Registration
Virginia lawmakers have passed and enacted House Bill 113, a measure designed to strengthen protections against corruption in the state’s voter registration system. The bill, introduced in the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia House of Delegates, amends the Code of Virginia to address new offenses related to bribing individuals to register to vote. Delegate […]
- Virginia Delegate Proposes Historic Recognition for Bicentennial Family Farms
In the 2026 Virginia House of Delegates regular session, Delegate Jason Ballard introduced House Bill 104 to amend state law regarding the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register. The legislation specifically directs the Department of Historic Resources to include bicentennial farms among the types of properties that can be nominated for listing on the register. This step […]
- Virginia Senator Proposes Fines to Curb Gas Station Heroin Sales
Senator Bill Stanley has introduced legislation designed to address the distribution of gas station heroin through retail outlets in Virginia. The bill centers on applying significant financial penalties to discourage these sales. Officials seek to limit access to the substance at gas stations and similar locations. This development comes as part of broader efforts to […]
- Virginia Allocates $116.3 Million for School Bonuses Amid Growing Budget Concerns
The state of Virginia is preparing to distribute a staggering $116.3 million in taxpayer funds to cover a one-time bonus payment for public school employees. This substantial financial commitment targets funded Standards of Quality instructional and support positions across the commonwealth. While supporting educators is a recognized priority, fiscal conservatives are raising alarms regarding the
- Virginia Budget Expands State Spending With $500,000 Grant for School Defibrillators
Virginia lawmakers have allocated a substantial half-million dollars from the state general fund for the upcoming fiscal year to equip schools with medical emergency devices. This aggressive spending measure represents a massive expansion of state involvement in local educational infrastructure. While protecting the health and safety of students is a universal priority, fiscal conservatives are […
- Virginia Budget Proposal Champions Tax Conformity to Save Taxpayers $148.6 Million in FY 2027
Virginia lawmakers are currently debating a critical budget measure that would conform the state tax code to federal provisions outlined in H.R. 1. This alignment is projected to result in a state revenue decrease of $148.6 million in fiscal year 2027, which translates directly into massive savings for hardworking citizens. By synchronizing state laws with […]
- Virginia General Assembly Passes Bill Extending Assault and Battery Protections to Temporary District Court Judges
Virginia Lawmakers Approve Measure to Protect Temporary District Court Judges from Assault and Battery The Virginia General Assembly has passed House Bill 124, a piece of legislation that extends important legal protections to district court judges serving on temporary recall. Sponsored by Delegate Atoosa Reaser, the bill amends the Code of Virginia to add these […]
- Virginia FY2027 Budget Pushes $25 Million into New Housing Bureaucracy
As Virginia lawmakers finalize the fiscal year 2027 budget, taxpayers are facing the financial burden of yet another newly created government entity. The proposed budget allocates a staggering $25 million to capitalize the brand-new Virginia Housing Revolving Loan Fund. This massive expenditure represents a significant expansion of state government designed to subsidize mixed-income housing projec
- Virginia Enacts Legislation Updating Teacher Reemployment and Contract Notice Rules
The Virginia General Assembly has enacted legislation that updates the rules governing the employment of public school teachers across the state. House Bill 125, which became law in April 2026, amends section 22.1-304 of the Code of Virginia to address the reemployment of teachers who have not yet received continuing contract status. The measure also […]
- Virginia House of Delegates Approves Legislation for Comprehensive Review of Electric Utility Infrastructure
The Virginia House of Delegates has moved forward with House Bill 114, a measure that seeks to enhance the management of the state’s electric utility system through detailed study. Sponsored by Delegate Lee Ware, the bill received unanimous approval on February 2, 2026, passing by a vote of 99 to 0. This action highlights the […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Foot $100.4 Million Bill for Welfare Administrative Costs
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive new financial burden as state lawmakers push to allocate $100.4 million to cover administrative costs for welfare programs. This staggering sum is intended to replace federal support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid that has recently dried up. Fiscal conservatives are raising alarm bells over this automatic […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Fund $20 Million Bureaucratic Expansion for Public Sector Unions
Virginia Taxpayers Face Massive Bill for New Union Bureaucracies The state budget for fiscal year 2027 includes a staggering $20 million allocation designed exclusively to fund the start-up costs for public sector collective bargaining. This massive expenditure will finance the creation of entirely new government entities, including the Public Employee Relations Board and the Virginia […]
- Virginia Lawmakers Push Costly Bureaucratic Expansion with New Marijuana Marketplace Budget
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive bureaucratic expansion as state lawmakers push forward with a costly framework for a legal recreational marijuana marketplace. The newly amended budget reveals a staggering funding increase to establish retail sales by July 2027, raising serious concerns about government waste, fraud, and overspending. Fiscal conservatives are warning that the ballooning […]
- Virginia Democrats Push $714 Million State Employee Pay Raise Funded by New Taxes
As Virginia lawmakers finalize the massive budget for the upcoming 2026-2028 biennium, fiscal conservatives are raising urgent alarms over a reckless expansion in permanent state spending. Governor Abigail Spanberger and Democratic legislative leaders have agreed to a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay bump for state employees, which will cost hardworking taxpayers an estimated $714 million. This […
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Bankroll Millions for New Recreational Marijuana Bureaucracy
Virginia taxpayers are now heavily burdened with millions of dollars in new spending to establish a recreational marijuana marketplace under the newly approved state budget for the 2026-2028 biennium. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently announced a highly controversial compromise to launch recreational retail sales by July 1, 2027, ending years of legislative gridlock. However, this progressive [
- After years of effort, Chesapeake Bay-specific menhaden population study gets funding
With new state dollars granted by the General Assembly by way of a budget amendment from Gov. Abigail Spanberger, scientists and lawmakers plan to examine the menhaden population inside the Chesapeake Bay, the culmination of years of legislative efforts. The data will be essential to determine whether updated conservation standards and catch limits for the […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Face Massive Burden as State Approves $117.6 Million for School Bonuses
Virginia taxpayers are bracing for another massive expenditure as the state government pushes forward with a costly education budget. Lawmakers have approved an astonishing $117.6 million appropriation to cover the state’s share of a one-time $1,500 bonus for instructional and support positions. This massive spending initiative targets state-recognized Standards of Quality staff within local schoo
- Virginia Budget Adds $600 Million Data Center Tax Amid Continued State Overspending
Virginia lawmakers have passed a new state budget that introduces a first-of-its-kind electricity consumption tax on data centers, raising serious questions about fiscal responsibility and government overspending. Taking effect on July 1, 2026, the provision levies a fee of 1.1 cents per kilowatt-hour on electricity consumed by these massive technology hubs. The new tax is […]
- Virginia Budget Hides $400.4 Million in Flexible Slush Funds for Local Schools
The Virginia budget for fiscal year 2027 contains a massive expenditure that should raise immediate red flags for fiscal conservatives and taxpayers across the commonwealth. Lawmakers have approved a staggering $400.4 million allocation designated merely as a one-time flexible payment supplement for local school divisions. By categorizing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars under such […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Face Millions in New Costs as 2027 and 2028 Home Care Wage Mandates Expand State Bureaucracy
Virginia taxpayers are bracing for a massive expansion of state spending following the recent approval of aggressive wage increases for home care workers scheduled for 2027 and 2028. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently finalized a series of controversial budget amendments that not only mandate artificially higher pay but also allocate millions of taxpayer dollars to establish […]
- State Budget Subsidizes Local School Responsibilities With $500,000 AED Grant
Virginia taxpayers are once again footing the bill for local school district expenses as the newly passed state budget allocates $500,000 in the first year of Fiscal Year 2027 for Automated External Defibrillators. The funds, directed through the Department of Education under Direct Aid to Public Education, are meant to assist high-need public elementary and […]
- Hidden Mandates: Virginia Taxpayers Foot the Bill for $11.1 Million in HIDDEN Central Appropriations
A staggering $11,125,212 allocation tucked away in the Virginia state budget under the vague category of “Central Appropriations” is raising serious alarm bells among fiscal conservatives. The massive expenditure, slated exclusively for the 2028 fiscal year, is explicitly designated to fund the controversial provisions of House Bill 5 from the 2026 General Assembly. By burying […]
- Virginia Banks $585.5 Million Surplus for Fiscal Year 2027 Amid Calls for Taxpayer Relief
The state of Virginia recently announced a staggering $936.3 million general fund surplus for Fiscal Year 2026, driven by an aggressive 6.7 percent growth in state revenues. This massive influx represents a $2.09 billion increase over the previous fiscal year, highlighting just how heavily state government is taxing its citizens. Instead of returning these over-collected […]
- Governor Spanberger Commits One Billion Taxpayer Dollars to Backfill Federal Budget Cuts
Governor Abigail Spanberger recently finalized the Virginia FY2026-2028 Biennium Budget, which includes a massive one billion dollar reserve fund designed to offset anticipated federal spending reductions. State officials claim this protective investment is necessary to shield Virginia from massive cuts stemming from President Donald Trump and his tax reform legislation. However, conservative watc
- Virginia Taxpayers on the Hook for $10 Million Expansion of Renamed Special Education Bureaucracy
Virginia taxpayers are facing another significant budget expansion as state officials push forward a massive $10.0 million funding increase for the fiscal year 2027 education budget. The general fund appropriation specifically targets the newly rebranded Support for Students with Intense Support Needs Application, formerly known as the Special Education Regional Tuition program. This costly financ
- Virginia’s $400 Million Blank Check: How Flexible School Funding Threatens Fiscal Responsibility
Virginia lawmakers have allocated a staggering $400.4 million from the general fund as a one-time flexible payment to local school divisions across the commonwealth. This massive expenditure, tucked into the latest state budget amendments, comes with the promise of addressing local educational needs without requiring a direct financial match from localities. However, fiscal conservatives are […]
- Virginia Secures Critical Tax Relief as Standard Deductions Rise for 2027
Hardworking families across the Commonwealth of Virginia are securing a critical financial victory as the state prepares to implement increased standard tax deductions for the upcoming years. Starting in tax year 2027, the standard deduction will rise to $9,200 for single filers and $18,400 for joint filers. This legislative move effectively keeps millions of dollars […]
- Virginia Delegate Jason Ballard Introduces Measure to Lower Fees for Concealed Handgun Permit Applications
Richmond, Virginia — During the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Jason Ballard introduced House Bill 106. The legislation focuses on reducing the maximum fee that local law enforcement agencies may charge to process concealed handgun permit applications. Under the bill’s provisions, the overall maximum fee for obtaining a concealed handgun permit […]
- New Requirements for Handgun Storage in Unattended Vehicles, Virginia Legislature Approves Bill
Virginia Legislature Approves Bill Establishing Requirements for Handgun Storage in Unattended Vehicles The 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly concluded with the enactment of House Bill 110, which introduces new rules governing the storage of handguns in unattended motor vehicles. Sponsored by Amy Laufer, the bill was signed by the governor on April […]
- 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 General Assembly Approves Measure Prohibiting Certain Ingredients in Cosmetics
RICHMOND, Va. — Legislation prohibiting the manufacture and sale of cosmetic products containing specific hazardous ingredients has been enacted in Virginia following approval by both chambers of the General Assembly. The new law, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, adds detailed restrictions to the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and aims to eliminate certain substances […]
- Virginia House Passes Bill Establishing Honor Guard Grant Program for Veterans
Virginia lawmakers in the House of Delegates have passed a bill that creates state support for honor guard services at the funerals of veterans. House Bill 108, introduced by Delegate Jason Ballard, requires the Department of Veterans Services to establish the Honor Guard Grant Program. The program will offer grants to veteran service organizations to […]
- Runaway Education Spending: The $98.4 Million Question in Virginia’s Budget
The Virginia state budget now includes a massive $98.4 million one-time supplement to the At-Risk Add-On program for public school divisions across the Commonwealth. This massive injection of taxpayer dollars is earmarked for local operating or capital needs while a legislative subcommittee continues to evaluate ongoing funding requirements. Fiscal conservatives are raising serious alarms over […]
- Virginia House Bill 86 Proposes Mattress Stewardship Program with New Recycling Fee
Richmond, Virginia — During the 2026 regular session of the Virginia General Assembly, attention turned to House Bill 86, which proposed the establishment of a Mattress Stewardship Program aimed at improving the management of discarded mattresses in the Commonwealth. Sponsored by Delegate Amy Laufer, the bill sought to amend the Code of Virginia by adding […]
- Virginia Bill Seeks to Raise Penalties for Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions
The Virginia House of Delegates reviewed a piece of legislation during the 2026 regular session designed to alter the penalty for voluntary manslaughter. Known as House Bill 102, or HB102, the measure was introduced to amend and reenact section 18.2-35 of the Code of Virginia, specifically addressing the punishment for this particular criminal offense. As […]
- Virginia Bill Proposes Lower Fees for Concealed Handgun Permits
In the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Delegates Jason Ballard and Will Davis introduced House Bill 106 (HB 106). The legislation aims to reduce fees associated with obtaining or renewing a concealed handgun permit in Virginia by lowering the maximum amount local law-enforcement agencies can charge for background investigations. Current Fee Structure […]
- Virginia Governor Signs Bill Expanding Disabled Veterans Vehicle Registration Fee Exemption
Virginia has taken a significant step in supporting its disabled veterans by enacting legislation that expands access to vehicle registration fee exemptions. House Bill 94, part of the 2026 Regular Session, amends section 46.2-739 of the Code of Virginia to include vehicles with standard passenger license plates in the exemption previously reserved for special disabled […]
- Virginia Lawmakers Approve Reforms to Underinsured Motorist Insurance Claims Process
The Virginia General Assembly has passed and the governor has signed into law House Bill 107, which introduces important changes to how underinsured motorist benefits are handled in the Commonwealth. The legislation, which amends sections 8.01-66.1:1 and 38.2-2206 of the Code of Virginia, focuses on clarifying procedures for settlements involving liability insurance and the subsequent […]
- Landlords to Offer Payment Plans Before Evicting for Minor Rent Defaults, Virginia General Assembly Approves Bill
Virginia General Assembly Approves Bill Requiring Landlords to Offer Payment Plans Before Evicting for Minor Rent Defaults The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate have passed legislation that establishes new protocols for landlords seeking to address tenant nonpayment of rent under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. House Bill 95 specifically targets situations where […]
- 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
- Virginia Governor Signs Bill Requiring Invasive Species Management on Highways
In a significant development for Virginia’s transportation and environmental management, Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed House Bill 88 into law. This legislation updates the state’s approach to managing plants along highway rights-of-way by prohibiting the planting of invasive species and requiring their removal. The bill amends section 33.2-217 of the Code of Virginia. It directs […]