STATE LEGISLATURE
-
Lawmakers approve budget without Youngkin’s costly arena project or tax cut for the rich
The Senate approved a new, two-year state budget on Saturday which includes pay raises for teachers, increased funding for education, and more. Gov. Youngkin, however, says the document needs “a lot of work” before he’s willing to sign it.
-
Youngkin signs gay marriage bill, blocks gun safety and reproductive rights bills
Although Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill meant to enshrine the legality of same-sex marriage, he vetoed or recommended major changes to bills surrounding reproductive and voting rights, gun control, book bans, and more.
-
How Del. Michael Feggans worked to keep your landlord from bursting in on you, among other bills
Del. Michael Feggans feels his first year in the Virginia General Assembly has been a successful one so far, where he passed bills relating to cybersecurity, helping small businesses, and aiding renters.
-
What’s inside the VA legislature’s proposed budgets
Both chambers rejected Youngkin’s proposed cut to the income tax rate— which would have benefited the wealthiest Virginians—and his proposed increase to the sales tax rate. Instead, they’re calling for that funding to go towards raising teacher pay.
-
Democrats pass bills to raise Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 per hour
State Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), who introduced SB 1, has warned Youngkin that he’d see a change in the Democrats’ “cooperative tone” if he vetoes the minimum wage bill.
-
What ‘Crossover Day’ means for bills in the Virginia General Assembly
“Crossover Day” in the Virginia General Assembly is the day in the legislative session bills must pass by in their respective chambers in order to be considered in the other chamber. In other words, a bill must pass in the House of Delegates before it can even be considered in the Senate, and vice versa.…
-
Virginia Democrats introduce new gun safety bills
One measure would make it illegal to have any hand in the sale, manufacture, transfer, or purchase of assault firearms.
-
Legacy college admissions could soon be a thing of the past in Virginia
This week, the Virginia Senate gave final approval to a bill that would end the practice of “legacy admissions” at the state’s public universities. “Legacy admissions” is a shorthand term for the practice of giving preferential treatment to college applicants who are related to alumni or donors. “It’s about fairness. It’s about higher ed being…
-
Virginia Democrats vote to increase minimum wage as Youngkin signals opposition
After winning majorities in both the House of Delegates and state Senate last November, newly empowered Democrats in Virginia’s General Assembly immediately made it clear that raising Virginia’s minimum wage would be a top priority in this year’s legislative session. Now Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is threatening to veto the effort before a bill even…
-
Virginia Senate votes to make sales tax holiday permanent
Virginians may soon be able to count on a permanent sales tax holiday for school and emergency preparedness supplies in August of each year. The sales tax holiday first became official in Virginia in 2006, and Democratic legislation to extend the sales tax break was passed in 2017. The original legislation had a sunset date…
