Senator
- Virginia localities weigh 1% sales tax for school construction as voters decide on expansion
A view from the front entrance of the renovated Gloucester County High School, which opened in September 2025.
- Virginia Senate Amendment Targets Faster Absentee Ballot Handling on Election Day
Senator Rome advances a change to Senate Bill 350 permitting local registrars to process absentee and early ballots during voting hours to ease worker burdens and support timely results.
- Virginia Senate Bill 169 Sets Earlier Deadlines for Election Signature Challenges
A Virginia Senate measure advances rules on timing for candidate petition challenges in general elections and primaries after a Fairfax County case.
- James Morefield House Bill 62 Eases Tazewell Town Manager Residency Rule
RICHMOND — In a move underscoring the value of local decision-making and practical governance, the Virginia General Assembly has sent House Bill 62 to the governor’s desk, amending the charter of the Town of Tazewell to ease residency requirements for its town manager.
- Early voting begins in Virginia, as Trump mail-ballot restrictions remain blocked
Early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm elections begins Friday, with a U.S. Senate race, all 11 congressional seats, three proposed constitutional amendments and numerous local referendums on ballots across the commonwealth.
- Century-Old Law Gives Virginia Legislator-Lawyers Broad Power to Delay Court Cases
State law allows attorneys serving in the General Assembly to obtain continuances in court proceedings when legislative duties interfere.
- Opioid Abatement Authority Awards $12.3 Million to 18 State Agencies
Package continues 32 projects and adds 7 new ones spanning health, corrections, courts and public universities.
- Virginia Senate Committee Advances House Bill 37 to Make Permanent Protections for Developmental Disabilities Services
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Senate’s Education and Health Committee unanimously approved House Bill 37 on February 26, 2026, rereferring it to the Finance and Appropriations Committee as the 2026 legislative session progresses toward crossover. The measure, which seeks to repeal a July 1, 2026, sunset provision on financial eligibility standards for developmental disability waivers,
- Louise Lucas Presses Data Center Tax Repeal After Virginia Senate Vote
RICHMOND (VA) (AP). Nearly 20 years ago, Virginia offered tax breaks to tech companies on software and equipment.
- Virginia Legislature Unanimously Approves Repeal of Apple Board and Excise Tax on Growers
RICHMOND, Virginia — In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate have passed House Bill 65, a bill to repeal the state Apple Board and the associated Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028.
- Creigh Deeds Examines Data Center Job Promises Versus Expansion Scale
Virginia Senator Deeds presented questions during a hearing regarding proposed data center projects in the state. The inquiry focused on the balance between creating 2,500 jobs and approving 40 additional buildings. This line of questioning reflects the current discussion on economic development and associated demands. The session involved direct address to the chair about the […]
- Data Center Bills Dominated This Year's General Assembly. Here's What Passed.
The rapid growth of Virginia’s data center industry was a key point of focus during the 2026 legislative session, as lawmakers sought to balance the sector’s benefits — including over $80 billion in state investments and thousands of jobs — against its enormous electricity and water needs, which are a growing concern for communities statewide. Legislators filed dozens of bills directly aimed at re
- Bill Stanley Senate Bill 106 Targeting Tianeptine Sales
The Virginia Senate approved Senate Bill 106 on a vote of 39 yeas to 0 nays, establishing civil penalties for the sale, giving, or distribution of tianeptine products. Sponsored by Senator Bill Stanley, the measure focuses on substances commonly associated with gas station sales and referred to informally as gas station heroin. The legislation aims […]
- Mark Peake Questions Speed Camera Use in Localities
Senator Mark Peake spoke during a recent legislative session about the implementation of speed cameras in various Virginia localities. He referenced specific revenue figures such as eight million dollars collected in Suffolk over the course of one year. Peake posed questions regarding whether these cameras primarily serve public safety objectives or function as sources of […]
- Bill DeSteph Discusses Regulation Effects on Business Location Choices
Senator Bill DeSteph spoke in the Virginia Senate about the role of regulations in business decisions affecting the state. He referenced experiences from the 1990s and early periods when employers with over 600 employees considered locations in Virginia. The senator described how some of these companies ultimately selected other states for expansion. DeSteph pointed to […]
- Danica Roem Discusses Costs Associated with Public Records Requests
Senator Danica Roem has addressed the topic of fees charged by local governments for public records in Virginia. Her remarks focused on specific examples of high costs for obtaining documents and footage. These include four thousand eight hundred dollars for emails and eight thousand eight hundred dollars for a school bus video. The discussion highlights […]
- Mark Peake Leads Virginia Senate Tongue-Twister Involving Brown-Belted Bumblebee
Senator Mark Peake led a tongue-twister challenge in the Virginia State Senate. The activity centered on repeating the phrase brown-belted bumblebee three times quickly. This occurred as part of the regular proceedings in the legislative chamber. The challenge involved multiple senators attempting the sequence. Senator Mark Peake presented it as a direct test for participants. […]
- Scott Surovell Advances School Food Waste Legislation
Senator Scott Surovell has put forward legislation that would require Virginia schools to adopt improved methods for managing food waste. The bill targets the incorporation of composting infrastructure particularly in new school buildings. This effort aims to address the volume of food waste generated in educational settings across various localities. During legislative proceedings the proposal […
- Lashrecse Aird Proposal Emerges to Address PFAS Chemicals at Richmond Airport
Virginia Senator Lashrecse Aird has introduced a call for a detailed plan to phase out toxic PFAS chemicals specifically at Richmond International Airport. The focus rests on safeguarding Virginia’s water supply from potential downstream effects. This measure seeks to address concentrations that may occur in certain areas near such facilities. Richmond International Airport operates as […]
- Virginia Senator Mark Peake Discusses Drug Sales at Gas Stations in Senate Exchange
During a Virginia State Senate proceeding Senator Mark Peake spoke about the sale of certain drugs at gas stations. He stated that these sales are already classified as felonies under current statutes. Peake questioned the level of enforcement by sheriffs in response to these activities. The comments formed part of a discussion on market conditions […]
- Virginia Senator Mark Peake Discusses Court Fee for Speed Camera Ticket Challenges
Senator Mark Peake addressed the Senate regarding the process for contesting tickets issued by speed cameras. He explained that a mandatory court fee of two hundred fifty dollars must be paid to initiate a challenge. This requirement applies to citations from automated enforcement devices. The statement focused on the procedural aspects of handling such matters […]
- Virginia Budget Expands Government Bureaucracy to Fund New Recreational Marijuana Market
The state of Virginia is embarking on a massive expansion of state bureaucracy to establish a fully regulated recreational marijuana marketplace under the forthcoming biennial budget. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently announced a compromise to launch retail sales by July 1, 2027, ending a five-year period where adult possession was legal but retail sales were not. […]
- Virginia Lawmaker Scott Surovell Seeks Speed Cameras on George Washington Parkway Amid Enforcement Limits
State Senator Scott Surovell has introduced legislation to place speed cameras on a section of the George Washington Parkway. The measure responds to challenges in traffic enforcement along the roadway. Officials have identified a specific jurisdictional issue preventing standard policing. Discussions in the legislature continue to examine the proposal and its potential effects. Details of […]
- Virginia’s Ballooning Budget: Across-the-Board Salary Hikes Threaten Taxpayers
The 2026-2028 biennium budget finalized by Governor Abigail Spanberger and Democratic lawmakers features massive 3.5% annual across-the-board pay raises for state employees. This sweeping compensation package shifts away from previous fiscally conservative proposals and places a heavier, permanent financial burden on Virginia taxpayers. The aggressive spending plan impacts all state agencies and s
- Virginia primary voters pick Mizusawa to face Warner, finalize key US House races
Virginians cast their ballots Tuesday in an unusually-timed primary that settled a statewide Republican contest for the U.S. Senate and determined several of Virginia’s most closely watched congressional matchups for the November election. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa won the GOP’s nomination to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner, while incumbents and […]
- Virginia legislator Louise Lucas was allowed to use campaign funds for her defense. So she did.
State Sen. Louise Lucas, the powerful Portsmouth Democrat, used $300,000 in campaign funds to contribute to her legal defense fund and hire a law firm following an FBI raid in May on her businesses in Portsmouth. That’s a sizable amount. What The Virginian-Pilot article should have noted higher in the story was that Lucas was […]
- Virginia Senator Louise Lucas Reports Campaign Expenditures for Legal Costs Ahead of New Restrictions
State Senator Louise Lucas of Portsmouth authorized two payments from her campaign account on June 30 that totaled $300,000 and were directed toward legal defense expenses. These disbursements occurred one day before new state legislation restricting the personal use of campaign funds became operative. Campaign finance filings show one payment of $200,000 went to the […]
- Virginia’s Children With Disabilities Keep Crying Out. Their Leaders Keep Looking Away
She is eleven years old and already carries a weight no child should have to bear. On some mornings she still wakes with the quiet hope that today might be different — that the classroom will feel manageable, that the adults will notice when her body starts to tighten, that someone will offer the support […]
- Senator Bill DeSteph Raises Concerns Over Business Regulations in Virginia
Senator Bill DeSteph has stated that over-regulation and excessive government interference are affecting business growth in Virginia. His comments focus on the potential challenges these factors pose to companies operating in the state. The remarks come amid ongoing discussions about economic conditions and policy impacts. Observers note the questions raised about whether such elements influence [
- Virginia Lawmakers Push Historic Spending Increases Amid Concerns Over Budget Bloat and Taxpayer Burden
The recently unveiled Virginia budget for the FY2027-FY2028 biennium introduces unprecedented levels of state spending that have raised immediate alarms regarding fiscal restraint. At the center of this financial blueprint is a sweeping compensation package that mandates four percent annual raises for teachers and school support staff in each year of the biennium. While supporters […]
- 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 […]
- Ballooning Entitlements: Virginia Budget Adds $2.4 Billion to Medicaid as Taxpayers Foot the Bill
Virginia taxpayers are bracing for a massive financial hit as the upcoming fiscal year 2026 through 2028 biennium budget includes a staggering net $2.4 billion General Fund investment to fully fund Medicaid and CHIP forecasts. This massive spending increase highlights a rapidly expanding welfare state that continues to consume an ever-growing portion of the state’s […]
- Virginia Preserves Data Center Tax Exemption Amid Budget Battles and Fiscal Concerns
The Virginia General Assembly has finalized a contentious fiscal year 2027 budget that preserves the highly debated Data Center Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption. Lawmakers navigated intense legislative clashes to maintain the lucrative tax break, which saves the data center industry an estimated two billion dollars annually. This decision keeps the commonwealth competitive for […]
- 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 [
- 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 Implements Historic Data Center Tax Amidst Rising Public Costs and Budgetary Battles
Virginia has officially implemented a first-of-its-kind statewide energy consumption tax on data centers as part of the FY2027-FY2028 biennial budget. The new policy levies a $0.011 per kilowatt-hour charge on electricity consumed by facilities housing massive server and network systems. Governor Abigail Spanberger championed the measure, stating it ensures the rapidly expanding industry pays its
- Senator Bill DeSteph Discusses Policies for High-Paying Jobs in Virginia Hearing
Senator Bill DeSteph presented comments on attracting high-paying jobs to Virginia in a legislative committee hearing. His statements focused on the relationship between regulatory policies and economic development opportunities in the state. DeSteph raised questions about whether existing regulations are impacting the ability to secure major investments that create positions with salaries exceedi
- Virginia Implements Landmark Energy Consumption Tax on Data Centers to Protect Taxpayers and the Grid
Virginia lawmakers have finalized a groundbreaking state budget that introduces a first-in-the-nation electricity consumption tax targeting the rapidly expanding data center industry. This new fiscal policy levies a tax of $0.011 per kilowatt-hour on all electricity consumed by these massive technology hubs operating within the Commonwealth. The measure is projected to generate a substantial $600
- 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 […]
- Officials push for transparency on testing around Shoosmith Landfill
Local, state, and federal officials held a closed-door meeting on July 1 to discuss the next steps for managing Shoosmith Landfill in Chesterfield, which is leaking 50,000 gallons a day of toxic leachate and is poised to spur an “environmental catastrophe,” Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, said. Sen. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, on Wednesday stated on Twitter […]
- Virginia House Considers Legislation to Prohibit Surveillance Pricing in Retail Transactions
In the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, consideration was given to legislation that would prohibit the practice known as surveillance pricing in connection with consumer transactions. The bill defines surveillance pricing as the selling or offering for sale of a good or service at a customized price for a specific consumer or […]
- Virginia Senate Race Features Republican David Williams Challenging Incumbent Mark Warner
David Williams, a Republican, is seeking the party’s nomination for U.S. Senate in Virginia ahead of the 2026 elections. His campaign focuses on opposing the reelection of incumbent Senator Mark Warner. Williams has been active in connecting with voters through various events and online platforms. The Republican primary is scheduled for August 4, 2026, with […]
- Hearing Examines Data Center Project Stability in Virginia
During a legislative hearing, Senator Bryce Reeves inquired about the status of significant data center projects planned for Virginia. He referenced information indicating that these developments could encounter obstacles without sustained support measures. The questions centered on elements that might determine whether the projects remain in the state. Reeves pointed to reports suggesting possibl
- New Law Sets Rules for Handguns in Unattended Motor Vehicles in Virginia
The Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate have passed legislation that sets new standards for storing handguns in unattended motor vehicles. House Bill 110 provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle when the handgun is visible to any person outside the vehicle. A violation of […]
- Senator Scott Surovell calls out Governor Spanberger for allegedly bypassing the law
During a legislative session Senator Scott Surovell raised points about revenue forecasting procedures. He referenced a veto that had already taken place on a related bill. Surovell discussed a press release concerning the committee on revenue estimates. The board’s role on that committee was noted in his comments. He inquired about the possibility of independent […]
- Virginia Senate Considers Photo Speed Cameras for George Washington Parkway Under SB81
Virginia State Senator Scott Surovell has introduced elements of Senate Bill 81 that would permit photo speed cameras on the George Washington Parkway. The discussion centers on a portion of the parkway located about 10 miles from Fairfax. During Senate proceedings, the measure encountered significant opposition from other members who characterized it as an attack […]
- Virginia Lawmaker Senator Scott Surovell Questions Commercial Marijuana Impact on State Budget
Senator Scott Surovell posed questions in a recent legislative session regarding the possible influence of a commercial marijuana market on Virginia’s budget situation. He inquired specifically if such a market could resolve the state’s budget deficit. References were made to potential job creation surpassing 18,000 positions. The senator also sought clarification on plans involving federal […]