A majority of Virginia’s new laws went into effect on July 1st, signaling the true start to the “interim summer” here in the Commonwealth.
Truthfully, we enjoy this part of the process; without fail, not a session goes by without someone in our expanded circles posing the question, Why does the General Assembly take up so many bills every year? As new laws take effect, the answer provides itself: legislation not only creates brand new laws, but also rolls back or eliminates existing ones.
Virginia’s political circle of life also means that as last session’s (or recently, sessions’) efforts starts to materialize, the work for the coming year is already picking up the pace. Prefiling for the 2023 Session begins in less than two weeks. And with the significant shifts that have taken place at the federal level over a similar number of weeks, it’s reasonable to assume that there will be a few legislators chomping at the bit to introduce their bills early.
In closing: truly, y’all, if we had known how easy it was to engage clients and colleagues alike with reliably interesting content, we would have started the “Virginia Wildlife” features ages ago. Lesson learned – never underestimate the power of animals on the internet. Or the allure of the majestic James River to the occasional dolphin.
Cheers –
Davis Consultants
- July 14 | Virginia FOIA Council Training
- July 18 | Prefiling for the 2023 Regular Session begins
- July 19 | Virginia Code Commission
- August 19 | Joint Meeting of House Appropriations, House Finance, and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee
- September 7 | Virginia Commission on Youth Workgroup
- September 7 | 2022 Special Session – Reconvened Session
State argues 2022 Virginia House elections would create ‘chaos’ in electoral process
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — State lawyers are arguing that a lawsuit to force 2022 Virginia House elections was filed too late, and that adding elections this year would stir up “procedural and administrative chaos” in the electoral process.
Virginia regulators say not so fast to synthetic THC
Virginia food safety regulators say they intend to stop the sale of many synthetic THC products that state lawmakers thought they had just legalized.
Metro extension leads to development boom
As the long-delayed phase two opening of Metro’s Silver Line extension is set for later this year in western Fairfax and Loudoun counties, a development boom is following on the train’s wheels.
VEC resumes collection of its jobless overpayments, seeking $859 million
The Virginia Employment Commission is resuming collection of its nearly $860 million in overpayments of unemployment insurance benefits to hundreds of thousands of people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with help from Attorney General Jason Miyares and outside collection agencies.
Virginia awarded over $200 million to expand broadband Internet access in rural areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WRIC) — Rural Virginians will soon be getting increased access to a vital utility.
Youngkin administration warns feds new wind areas could hurt commercial fisheries
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration told federal officials that large areas of ocean off Virginia being considered as potential offshore wind sites could cause “millions of dollars of negative impact to Virginia’s commercial fishing industries.”
AG Seeks to Close Hearing on School Division Grand Jury Challenge
Virginia’s Attorney General, Jason Miyares has filed a motion to close Monday’s scheduled Circuit Court hearing on the Loudoun County School Board’s motion to halt his grand jury investigation.
Free-speech groups, book world fight back in Virginia obscenity case
Book publishers, booksellers, authors and free-speech groups are pushing back against a Virginia law that allowed obscenity claims to proceed in court against two books that have come under fire from conservatives who say they’re inappropriate for young readers.
Police: July 4 mass shooting thwarted in Virginia’s capital
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Police in Richmond, Virginia, said Wednesday that they thwarted a planned July 4 mass shooting after receiving a tip that led to the arrest of two men and the seizure of multiple guns — an announcement that came just two days after a deadly mass shooting on the holiday in a Chicago suburb.
Virginia is expanding Medicaid coverage to all enrollees for a year after childbirth
Starting this month, Virginia Medicaid will cover enrollees for a year after childbirth — a significant expansion aimed at improving postpartum outcomes for low-income patients.
GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin expands political operation as 2024 speculation grows
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is preparing to fan out across the country to stump for Republican candidates on the midterm election ballot as he tests his appetite for national politics and a possible 2024 presidential bid.
Va. receives $22.7M to reclaim abandoned mine lands
The Virginia Department of Energy will receive $22.7 million in federal funding toward redeveloping abandoned mine lands across the commonwealth, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.
Secret aid society of Black women recognized with marker in Norfolk
Sitting along Church Street on Wednesday morning, Estella Spruill was playing hooky.
“I’m supposed to be at the doctor’s office, but I came here instead,” she said, grinning slyly and gazing over at the black and white sign that had just been unveiled. “This is one of the greatest things that’s happened to us.”
Customs shifts oversight of Virginia ports, airports to Baltimore
Virginia further cemented its image as a mid-Atlantic state with the transfer of its maritime ports and airports to the oversight of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Baltimore instead of Atlanta.
After Supreme Court ruling, what are Virginia's clean energy laws, programs?
NORFOLK, Va. — The Supreme Court on Thursday limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, a major blow in the fight against climate change.
Here’s how federal gun reform will impact Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)- Congress just passed what many are calling the most significant federal gun reform in decades but at least one gun rights advocate says it won’t have a noticeable impact in Virginia.
Senate Democrat Urges Biden to Repeal Tariffs to Fight Inflation
A Senate Democrat called on President Joe Biden to repeal tariffs put in place by the Trump administration, saying they haven’t significantly changed China’s trade practices and are contributing to high prices for Americans.