Virginia General Assembly

Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi urged state regulators to extend the review period for the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, which would create the largest utility company in the U.S. She requested additional transparency through 64 detailed questions to assess the merger's impact on Virginia ratepayers and energy costs.

The Virginia General Assembly approved budget amendments proposed by Spanberger, resolving a prolonged legislative impasse. The decision marks the end of months of deadlock over budget negotiations.

The Virginia General Assembly approved Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s budget amendments, resolving a months-long impasse before the new fiscal year. The $207 billion biennial budget includes technical corrections and policy revisions, such as data center adjustments, utility rebates, and law enforcement rules, and becomes law without the governor’s signature.

Virginia lawmakers will reconvene in Richmond to consider Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s 14 budget amendments ahead of the July 1 fiscal deadline. The amendments include reducing the state’s unappropriated surplus, increasing pay for home-care workers, and introducing water-conservation requirements for data centers.

The Virginia General Assembly allocated $10.6 million to help contain toxic leachate leaking from the bankrupt Shoosmith Landfill in Chesterfield County. The landfill, which generates 50,000 gallons of toxic wastewater daily, has been discharging leachate into Swift Creek, a waterway connected to the James River, raising concerns about environmental and public health risks.

State funding has been approved for Lake Anna to mitigate harmful algal blooms, control invasive hydrilla, and maintain buoy safety. The Virginia General Assembly authorized the funding for these environmental protection initiatives.

Virginia's House and Senate released conflicting budget proposals, with the House removing environmental standards for data centers and creating a commission to study their impact, while the Senate included a teacher raise and funding for health services. The data center tax exemption remains a key point of contention.

Four new Virginia laws will take effect on July 1, 2026, following their approval by the General Assembly and signature by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The legislation was introduced during the current legislative session.

Virginia lawmakers are divided over whether to continue a sales tax exemption for data centers as the fiscal 2027 budget deadline approaches. The Senate voted to end the tax break, which the House rejected, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger advocating for data centers to pay their 'fair share' while facing potential government shutdown risks.

Virginia’s revenue forecast increased by $1.5 billion over three fiscal years, providing lawmakers more flexibility as budget negotiations remain stalled over disagreements on data center tax incentives and spending priorities. The updated projections show higher-than-expected General Fund revenues for 2026–2028, with lawmakers set to reconvene in June to finalize a budget before the June 30 fiscal deadline.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed multiple bills passed by Virginia's General Assembly, including measures related to cannabis sales and prescription drug affordability. The vetoes include bills sponsored by prominent Democratic legislators like Scott Surovell, Lashrecse Aird, and R. Creigh Deeds. The article suggests potential pushback from legislative Democrats on these actions.

Virginia's state revenues have exceeded forecasts by over $850 million despite losing 41,900 jobs since the start of fiscal year 2026. A budget standoff between the Democratic-controlled Senate and House of Delegates centers on a dispute over rolling back a sales and use tax exemption for data centers.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed legislation directing regulators to assign electricity costs to data centers and allowing Dominion Energy to spend $900,000 per mile to bury local distribution lines. The bills removed a requirement for data centers to pay capacity market costs but expanded regulatory authority to address rising grid strain and customer bills.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation banning future sale and manufacture of assault-style firearms and other bills, including hospital weapon restrictions, marijuana sentencing reforms, and protections for immigrant workers. Republicans criticized the measures, predicting legal challenges and citing constitutional concerns.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed a bill that would have restored collective bargaining rights for 50,000 public sector workers, despite campaigning on promises to restore these rights. Union leaders consider this veto a 'betrayal'. The bill was passed by majorities in both chambers of Virginia's general assembly.

The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democratic-backed redistricting map, prompting fury from Democrats and calls for violent revolution from some leftist voices. The court ruled that the map violated the state's constitution due to procedural errors. Democrats claim the ruling undermines the will of the people.

The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democratic-backed redistricting map, sparking fury among Democrats who claim the ruling undermines the will of the people. The court ruled that the map violated the state's constitution due to procedural errors. Democrats are exploring options to fight back against the ruling.

The Virginia Supreme Court is reviewing a Republican challenge to a congressional redistricting plan approved by voters, which could allow Democrats to gain up to four additional U.S. House seats. Republicans argue the Democratic-led General Assembly violated procedural rules by fast-tracking a constitutional amendment for mid-decade redistricting, while Democrats claim the process followed all legal requirements.

The Virginia Supreme Court is reviewing a Republican challenge to a congressional redistricting plan approved by voters, which could shift the U.S. House delegate count from 6-5 to 10-1 in favor of Democrats. Republicans argue the Democratic-led General Assembly violated procedural rules by fast-tracking a constitutional amendment for mid-decade redistricting, while Democrats claim the process was lawful and ratified by voters.

Virginia voters narrowly approved a referendum allowing the Democrat-controlled General Assembly to redraw congressional maps, but three lawsuits challenge the process under the Virginia Constitution. Legal disputes focus on whether the amendment's first passage in 2025 violated procedural rules, particularly regarding the use of a special session convened for budget matters and the absence of an intervening election.

A Virginia court ruled the state's redistricting referendum unconstitutional, blocking its certification and sparking immediate appeals from both sides. Republicans hailed the decision as a legal victory, while Democrats, including Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, vowed to challenge the ruling.

Virginia Democrats face accusations of illegally extending a legislative session to pass a redistricting amendment, which could shift the state's congressional map to a 10-1 Democratic advantage. A legal challenge argues the session violated constitutional limits, while Democrats defend it as a response to Republican gerrymandering. The Supreme Court will decide if the referendum process was lawful.