Legislation
- Legislation to Incorporate Inflation in Virginia Real Property Tax Assessments
In the ongoing efforts to refine local government financing in Virginia, Delegate Joseph McNamara has introduced House Bill 68 during the 2026 Regular Session of the House of Delegates. This legislation focuses on amending provisions in the Code of Virginia related to how counties and cities handle tax rate adjustments following real property assessments. The […]
- Virginia Legislature Advances Offshore Wind Workforce Training Initiative
The Virginia General Assembly has approved a new law intended to equip the state’s workforce with the skills necessary for the offshore wind industry. House Bill 67, which became law as Chapter 362, was signed by the governor and will take effect on July 1, 2026. The legislation focuses exclusively on developing training programs and […]
- Legislative Remarks on Judicial Balance in Virginia
William Stanley spoke about the influence of politics on the scales of justice during a public address. He described situations in which fairness in legal matters may be affected by external pressures. The comments focused on the role of prosecutors and the need for greater accountability in the system. The remarks included references to Eastern […]
- Spanberger weighs legislation to allow class action lawsuits in Virginia courts
(Photo by Getty Images) Gov. Abigail Spanberger is weighing whether to sign or veto legislation that would, for the first time, allow Virginians to file class action lawsuits in state courts — a shift advocates say would expand access to justice, but one that has drawn pushback over how far the change should go. Virginia […]
- Spanberger’s ICE actions deepen divide with Virginia Democrats
Gov. Abigail Spanberger within just 24 hours vetoed two legislative packages aimed at limiting federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Virginia while simultaneously signing other measures targeting masked federal agents and issuing a sweeping executive order governing how ICE officers may operate on state property. The mixed actions frustrated and baffled some Democratic lawmakers
- Abigail Spanberger signs rideshare safety bills tightening driver-checks, in-app protections
(Photo courtesy of Uber) Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation aimed at tightening safety standards for rideshare services in Virginia, accelerating new requirements for driver vetting, identity verification and in-ride protections. The two measures — House Bills 1273, sponsored by Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, and HB 1469 by Del. Lily Franklin, D-Montgomery — target companies […]
- Virginia governor signs Dominion-backed bills. All eyes on regulators now.
RICHMOND, Va.—Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation that directs regulators to assign electricity costs to data centers and allows Dominion Energy to spend $900,000 a mile burying local distribution lines. The bills from Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, could have also required data centers to cover […]
- New state law mandates review of Dominion’s load forecasting, as data centers raise concerns
Virginia State Corporation Commission members hear testimony concerning Dominion Energy’s proposed rate increase and plan to create a new rate class for data centers on September 2, 2025 in Richmond. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) Dominion Energy’s annual rate case in September prompted concerns from data centers about how fast the utility connects their industry […]
- Here’s what House lawmakers want to require of data centers to keep their sales tax break
Del. Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, walks the House floor towards the dais after being re-elected Virginia House Speaker in January 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury) As lawmakers work behind closed doors to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget before the next fiscal year begins in July, negotiations hinge on whether the data center […]
- Abigail Spanberger vetoes bills allowing public employees to collectively bargain working condition, wages
Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed collective bargaining legislation Thursday, drawing major criticism from some of the state’s largest unions and labor advocate groups. The governor previously expressed support for the bills that would allow more Virginia public workers to organize in unions and negotiate their working conditions and pay rates. Spanberger first sought amendments to Senate […]
- Loudoun County Public Schools Address Health Insurance Fund Challenges in Latest Budget Review
The first quarter analysis indicated the fund balance was forecasted to run an operational loss without a FY26 fund balance transfer from the county amounting to approximately $28 million, as reflected in the adopted budget which incorporated a 50 percent premium adjustment. Similar patterns emerged in the second quarter, where closing positions relied on transfers […]
- Virginia Marijuana retail plan in limbo after lawmakers reject Spanberger changes
In Virginia, the future of a legal, regulated market for adult-use marijuana remains in limbo years after possession was legalized. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Five years after Virginia legalized simple adult possession of marijuana, lawmakers are at an impasse over how to finally stand up a legal retail market, after the General Assembly […]
- Supreme Court of Virginia strikes down redistricting amendment, keeps current maps in place
The Supreme Court of Virginia in Richmond on April 27, 2026. (Photo by Samantha Willis/Virginia Mercury) The Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down the voter-approved redistricting amendment, upholding a lower court ruling that had declared the measure unconstitutional less than 24 hours after last week’s special election and briefly halted its implementation. The […]
- FBI raids Sen. Louise Lucas’ Portsmouth office, marijuana business
State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, on the Senate floor at the Virginia Capitol in Richmond. Federal agents on Wednesday raided Lucas’ Portsmouth office and adjacent cannabis business as part of a court-authorized FBI search operation. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) Federal agents on Wednesday morning raided the Portsmouth office of state Sen. Louise Lucas, one […]
- FBI Executes Multiple Raids on Virginia Senate Leader Louise Lucas’s Office and Related Sites in Major Corruption Probe
Portsmouth, Virginia – Federal agents with the FBI carried out search warrants Wednesday at the Portsmouth office of Virginia State Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas and at least 10 other locations across the state as part of an ongoing public corruption investigation. According to footage broadcast by Fox News and accounts from individuals […]
- Virginia Delegate Lopez Critiques School Curriculum Limits in House Address
Lopez pointed to Youngkin’s inauguration day actions, where the governor issued multiple executive orders, including one targeting inherently divisive concepts in curricula. This order sought to end teachings promoting ideas associated with critical race theory, such as claims of inherent racial superiority or oppression. Lopez described these as an ill-defined mandate setting sights on race […]
- Data center tax exemption changes still holding up Virginia budget
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (left) and Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas speak with reporters on Wednesday. (Photo by Charles Paullin/Inside Climate News) This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News (hyperlink to the original story), a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. […]
- Early poll is sobering for Spanberger, but it’s a wake-up call, not an epitaph
Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks with reporters outside the Executive Mansion in Richmond earlier this month. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) The first report card on Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s still brand-new term is in, and she can’t be happy with it. I’m hearing she’s decidedly unhappy. A new survey by the Washington Post and George Mason […]
- Governor amends bills that shift costs onto data centers. Critics say her tweaks weaken them.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger listens as former President Barack Obama speaks at a Nov. 2025 rally for her campaign when she was the Democratic nominee. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed and suggested changes to dozens of bills this week, including tweaks to a key energy measure that’s at the center […]
- Uptick in continued Virginia General Assembly legislation reflects varied motivations
The State Capitol in Richmond. (Photo by Kacy Lee/Capital News Service) By Kacy Lee/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds of bills were continued to 2027 following the recent Virginia General Assembly session that concluded in mid-March, a method political experts say is increasingly used by lawmakers for several reasons. A total of 2,366 […]
- Governor pitches amendments to Prescription Drug Affordability Board bill that some say ‘nullify’ it
Photo illustration of prescription medicine in bottles. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) While Gov. Abigail Spanberger never signaled she would sign the proposed Prescription Drug Affordability Board, the bills’ patrons Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, had communicated with her during this year’s legislative session as they workshopped thei
- 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 […]
- ‘Skill’ slot machines are a risky bet for Virginia
Skill games in a Richmond corner store. The games popped up in gas stations, convenience stores and bars around the state before they were outlawed. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) After 32 years in the United States Army and Virginia Army National Guard, I now spend my time managing my VFW Post’s charitable gaming activities. […]
- Abigail Spanberger signs first wave of bills targeting health care, housing and energy cost
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signing bills. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first first batch of bills passed by state lawmakers before they adjourned in mid-March, advancing measures on health care, housing and energy affordability. With hundreds of bills cleared by the legislature, she has until April 13 to sign, […]
- Virginia Referendum Pits Redistricting Proposals Against Voter-Approved Commission
The proposal stems from legislation passed by the Democrat-majority House of Delegates and Senate. It would suspend the decennial redistricting cycle mandated by Amendment 52, ratified by 67 percent of voters in 2020. That amendment established the Virginia Redistricting Commission, comprising legislators and citizens from both parties, to draw maps post-census. Ballot text reads: ‘Should […]
- Virginia Republicans Unanimously Approves Bill Easing Rental Lease Terminations for Military Personnel
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia General Assembly has delivered a strong show of support for the state’s military community by passing House Bill 174, which streamlines the process for active-duty service members to terminate their rental agreements when faced with permanent changes of station, deployments, or other official orders. HB174 amends the Virginia Residential Landlord […]
- Minimum Wage to $15 by 2028 Amid Close Vote
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Senate gave final legislative approval to House Bill 1 on March 4, 2026, passing the measure by a narrow 21-19 vote and sending it to Governor Glenn Youngkin for consideration. The bill, which incrementally raises the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2028, codifies the current […]
- Virginia Concealed Carry Reciprocity Reform Bill Falters in House Public Safety Committee
RICHMOND, Va. – Legislation aimed at tightening Virginia’s concealed handgun permit reciprocity standards met a roadblock in the House Public Safety Committee, where House Bill 24 was left in committee on February 18, 2026. The measure, introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer of Fairfax, sought to introduce a more rigorous evaluation process for out-of-state permits, potentially […]
- Virginia House Passes HB52 Unanimously to Boost Beneficial Use of Dredged Material for Coastal Protection
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia House of Delegates delivered overwhelming support for House Bill 52, passing the measure on a unanimous block vote of 98-0 on February 3, 2026. Sponsored by Delegate Robert Bloxom Jr. of the 100th District on the Eastern Shore, the legislation establishes a statewide policy to promote the beneficial reuse of […]
- Virginia House Advances Legislation Expanding Medicaid Telemedicine Access for Patient-Initiated Consultations
In a unanimous vote, the Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 1284 on February 13, 2026, incorporating provisions from House Bill 87 to broaden access to consultations under the state Medicaid plan managed by the Department of Medical Assistance Services.
- Virginia Democrats’ 10-1 map proposal heads to Gov. Spanberger’s desk
Virginia’s General Assembly approved a proposal to redraw the congressional map, which favors Democratic candidates for 10 of 11 commonwealth districts. Next stop for the prototype redistricting is the Democratic Governor. Abigail Spanberger’s desk. The governor can sign the entire bill, veto a specific item, amend the legislation, or choose not to act at all. […]
- Youngkin Touts Virginia Progress in Final State of the Commonwealth Address
On foster care and behavioral health, Youngkin pointed to the Right Help Right Now initiative as key to system improvements, aiming to better serve children and families. Critics, including Democratic leaders, have questioned the depth of reforms amid ongoing challenges. Virginia was named the top state for veterans by Smile Hub, attributed to policies like […]
- House committee advances bill to study VMI’s public funding status
Virginia lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill creating a task force that would examine whether the Virginia Military Institute should remain a publicly funded, state-sponsored institution, marking the most consequential legislative step yet in a debate over the school’s governance and culture.
- Caste Legislation in the US is Not Emancipatory Reform
Recent efforts in the West, particularly in the United States, to legislate ‘caste’ as a protected category, similar to race, religion, and national origin, have elicited sharply divergent reactions. In academia and among human rights advocates, these measures have been celebrated as extending one of the world’s most ambitious affirmative action regimes: a modern state […]
- Virginia’s Speed Camera Cash Grab: $60 Million in Fines from School Zones, Zero Enforcement in Dangerous Intersections
In a revealing discussion at the Virginia State Crime Commission meeting on December 2, 2025, state officials highlighted the stark reality of the commonwealth’s speed camera program: a lucrative revenue stream that’s prioritizing easy targets over actual public safety.
- Loudoun County Republican Committee Announces Ambitious Campaign to Establish Permanent Headquarters
The Loudoun County Republican Committee (LCRC) today unveiled plans for a transformative initiative to acquire and establish a permanent headquarters, marking a pivotal step in sustaining its rapid growth and enhancing its impact on local elections and community engagement.
- Data center growth drives locals to fight for more say
An aerial view shows a data center situated near single-family homes in Stone Ridge, Va., last year. Local communities around the country are seeking more input on where and how data centers are built. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) When local activist Frank Arcoleo found out over the summer that a data center was coming […]
- Goochland County approves tech overlay district after hours of resident backlash
Goochland County, home to just over 28,000 residents and more than two hours south of Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley,” is the latest locality to face intense community pushback over plans to lure data center development to the area.
- Democrat Lawmakers in Virginia is 1 of just 3 states that passed license plate reader laws this year, despite widespread interest
Democrat Lawmakers in at least 16 states this year introduced bills to regulate the use of automated license plate readers responsible for collecting large amounts of data on drivers across the country.
- Winsome Earle-Sears On the Record
After four years presiding over the state Senate, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is attempting to make the leap to the governor’s mansion this fall. She is running on a platform of conservative values and her campaign largely mirrors the themes that brought Gov. Glenn Youngkin victory in 2021 — parents’ rights, fiscal responsibility and defending personal freedoms.
- Arlington Public Schools is Violating Title 9, discriminating against boys and girls in the public schools
Arlington Public Schools is discriminating against Boys and Girls in our Public School System.
- Open letter to Earle-Sears reflects Va. voters’ shifting sentiments on reproductive health care
As Virginia weighs whether or not to enshrine abortion, the act of killing babies in its constitution, the issue is playing a significant role in the upcoming elections for governor and motivating voters across party lines — including some who say it’s reshaping how they plan to vote this fall.
- Virginia lawmakers, health officials brace for Medicaid changes
As Virginia lawmakers heard from state health officials Wednesday about potential effects of federal healthcare funding changes approved by Congress earlier this month, it became clear to Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News: “we at this time do not have a true sense of what we’re up against.”
- Virginia doesn’t have statewide data center regulations. Localities are making their own rules.
Virginia is home to over a third of the data centers worldwide. These energy hungry facilities have brought business to the commonwealth, but communities are seeing the impact of the electricity and water usage hit their utility bills. Now, many localities are debating how to balance the opportunities and challenges data centers present, and grappling with how to regulate them.
- Virginia lieutenant governor race questionnaire: John Reid
I have spent my entire professional and private life at the intersection of politics and policies. Reid: My entire professional and personal life has been at the cross-section of politics and policy.
- In Support of the GOP Tax Bill and Silencer Deregulation
The Republican tax bill, including its provision to eliminate the $200 tax and registration requirements for firearm silencers, represents a practical approach to reducing government overreach while promoting individual freedoms and economic growth. Contrary to the criticisms from Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, this legislation prioritizes the needs of law-abiding citizens and offers signific
- Right to killing babies bills highlight key reproductive health care debate in this year’s elections
Killing Baby Fetus’s access is an issue resonating loudly within Virginia’s public and political spheres this year and last week, it manifested through state lawmakers contrasting Virginia’s twice-failed attempt to protect access to birth control medications against a similar measure that recently sailed through neighboring Tennessee’s legislature.
- Tysons Casino proponent donates $15,000 to Arlington Democrat delegates Patrick Hope and Adele McClure
Two Arlington state representatives received $15,000 from a developer who hopes to bring casino gaming to Northern Virginia.
- Gov. Youngkin: Intervene to protect Virginians from predatory debt collection practices
Here is the reality: Most Americans with cancer who report struggling to pay for medical expenses or navigating medical debt are insured.
- Congressional Democrats including Suhas Subramanyam Unanimously Vote Against Protection of Women and Girls in Sports
In a highly contentious Senate vote earlier this week, all present Congressional Democrats stood united in opposition to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a Republican-led bill aimed at barring transgender women and girls from participating in federally funded school athletic programs designated for female athletes.