“Happy Session Preparation Season, to those who celebrate!”

Commissions are holding year-end meetings to issue legislative recommendations; interim workgroups are prepping to issue their study reports; there’s been a slight uptick in volume of prefiled legislation. 

And Election Day is less than two weeks away. 

Mutual complaining about this time of the year is almost a work requirement in the government affairs space, and yet – even after decades of working around Capitol Square – it still remains an exciting season for us. Every year manages to be a uniquely familiar experience: preparation takes place, and then reality intervenes. Usually around the same time the Governor presents his planned budget amendments to the money committees.

These weeks represent the professional tension between apprehension and anticipation. You grow accustomed to updating the bill trackers and walk lists on one screen and your holiday card list on another, with a half-eaten meal on the desk between. Jokes about dressing up as the LIS website for Halloween get texted back and forth. Legislators call to catch up, and sigh in relief when you utter the words: “Only one draft request, and it’s a bipartisan light lift.”

We look forward to connecting more substantially with our clients and partners in the days ahead, as seasonal celebrations – and productive 2023 preparations – continue. 

In closing: a reminder that successful preparation requires for constant vigilance. Focus on what is ahead – and overhead, at least while the owl attacking citizens across the U of R campus remains at large. 

Cheers –

Davis Consultants

  • November 2 | Joint Commission on Health Care
  • November 7 | Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission
  • November 7 | Manufacturing Development Commission
  • November 8 | ELECTION DAY 2022
  • November 14 | House Appropriations Committee
  • November 14 | Behavioral Health Commission
  • November 17-18 | Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee Annual Meeting

Potential class-action suit seeks overtime pay for Virginia General Assembly aides

By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury

A former aide to Virginia Del. Marie March, R-Floyd, has filed a civil lawsuit against her onetime boss, claiming March asked her to do private work in a taxpayer-funded job and raising the prospect of class-action litigation on overtime pay for hundreds of legislative staffers.

FULL STORY »

Lawmakers meet to discuss ways to address affordable housing crisis

By AMY AVERY, WAVY News

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Lawmakers on the Peninsula recently met in Newport News to address the affordable housing crisis. They’re working to bring solutions to the table to help get families into quality, economic homes.

FULL STORY »

Republicans emerge to contend for legislative special election

By BRIAN TROMPETER, Sun Gazette

Two candidates are seeking the Fairfax County Republican Committee’s nomination to run in the Jan. 10 special election to fill the now-vacant 35th District House of Delegates seat.

FULL STORY »

Youngkin wants every high school student to graduate with a credential or associate degree

By SUSAN CAMERON, Cardinal News

The governor said he plans to announce in December he is seeking a budget amendment to fund expanding the program so that a credential or associate degree is a graduation requirement.

FULL STORY »

Virginia is well-suited for controlled environment agriculture, summit says

By GRACE MAMOM, Cardinal News

Virginia is working to be at the forefront of the fast-growing controlled environment agriculture industry. And, based on information shared at this week’s CEA Summit East, it’s in good shape to achieve this goal.

FULL STORY »

Virginia unemployment rate holds steady at 2.6%, below national average

By TANNOCK BLAIR, WRIC News

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia’s unemployment rate held steady at 2.6% in September, a 0.8% drop from the same point a year ago. According to data released by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), the commonwealth’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.6% continues to be below the national rate, which declined to 3.5%.

FULL STORY »

Altria partners with Japan Tobacco to bolster smoke-free category
By ANANYA MARIAM RAJESH

Oct 27 (Reuters) – Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc (MO.N) on Thursday announced a strategic partnership with Japan Tobacco (2914.T) in an attempt to boost its smoke-free category.

FULL STORY »

Why is Northern Va. the world’s data center capital?

By NEAL AUGENSTEIN, WTOP

Most people don’t give data centers a second thought — or even know what they are — until one affects their lives. In Northern Virginia, though, a lot of people do a lot of thinking about data centers.

FULL STORY »

Virginia Supreme Court upholds ‘open courts,’ narrows FOIA personnel exemption

By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury

The Supreme Court of Virginia handed down two decisions Thursday in support of greater transparency in public access to both court hearings and information on government employees.

FULL STORY »

Youngkin calls latest student test scores ‘catastrophic’

By SARAH RANKIN, AP News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Math and reading scores declined in Virginia, as they did around the country, according to the results of a closely watched national test, findings that Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Monday were “catastrophic.”

FULL STORY »

Youngkin highlights Hampton Roads transportation projects

By BRIAN REESE, WAVY

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)- Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed several hundred industries and political leaders at the Governor’s Transportation Conference at the Virginia Beach Convention Center Thursday morning.

FULL STORY »

In a win for conservation, Nansemond Indian Nation is given back ancestral land

BY PAMELA D’ANGELO, WVTF

Last week, the Nansemond Indian Nation was given back 504 acres of their ancestral lands in Suffolk County. For the seven federally recognized Tribes in Virginia, getting back ancestral lands for conservation is key to their sovereignty.

FULL STORY »

Opioid epidemic cost Virginia $3.5 billion in 2020, VDH opioid cost calculator shows

By TANNOCK BLAIR, WRIC

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Health has developed an online calculator to show how much the opioid epidemic has impacted Virginians in lost labor, healthcare, crime and other costs.

FULL STORY »

U.S. House races and bond initiatives: A 2022 VPM News voter guide

By KATHARINE DEROSA, VPM News

Elections for Virginia’s representatives in the U.S. House are set for Nov. 8. Check out this voter guide to ensure you’re ready for Election Day.

FULL STORY »

Richmond nonprofit receives grants to implement Operation Ceasefire

By PATRICK LARSEN, VPM News

The state Department of Criminal Justice Services and the U.S. Attorney’s office have provided grants for a Richmond organization to begin implementing Operation Ceasefire in order to tamp down on gun violence in the city.

FULL STORY »

Tulsi Gabbard campaigns with Republican Yesli Vega in Virginia

By MICA SOELINER, The Washington Times

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard campaigned with Republican House candidate Yesli Vega on Saturday, continuing her streak of boosting GOP candidates for office this election cycle.

FULL STORY »

Hampton Roads may help decide control of the House of Representatives. And the race couldn’t be closer.

By RYAN MURPHY, WHRO

If you wanted to draw a swing district with the most middle-of-the-road electorate possible, you’d come up with Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.

FULL STORY »