In The News

RICHMOND, VA (VR) – Governor Glenn Youngkin led a celebration of the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to agricultural innovation by announcing the expansion of an indoor, vertical farm in Prince William County and signing legislation that clarifies tax relief measures for the controlled environment agriculture industry.

RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A Republican governor and a Democratic delegate are agreeing on a state budget that was signed into law on Monday.

TO THE EDITOR,
On May 13, Governor Younkin signed the new budget for the Commonwealth. The budget includes $500,000 for controlling the harmful algae that blooms on Lake Anna every year. This money was allocated in response to a request from Delegate Amy Laufer.

After months of debate, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a compromise budget passed by the state legislature during a special session on May 13.

Another standing-room-only crowd listened intently and asked great questions as two VA Delegates and VA Senator shared a General Assembly Update, an annual benefit for SSV members.

Clinch Valley Health, a part of Lifepoint Health, hosted a facility tour and round table discussion for a team of state delegates as they visited Southwest Virginia to kick off the first meeting of the new House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care.

At a fundraiser in Albemarle County, House Speaker Don Scott sounded ready to make a deal with the governor to quickly approve a new budget. “The governor has some views that are a little bit different, and we want to try our best to meet him in the middle so we can get this budget done, because so many are dependent on it,” he told RadioIQ.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The local food pantry Loaves and Fishes celebrated its recent renovations and more than 20 years of helping feed the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and cookout.

Delegate Amy Laufer, representing the Virginia’s 55th District, discusses the bills she’s sponsored and her legislative priorities during her first session in the General Assembly.

A bill that aims to reduce prescription drug prices for Virginians is sitting on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk, and Charlottesville Democrats are rallying in hopes the Republican will sign it. State Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Amy Laufer visited Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville on Thursday to promote two bills that would create a prescription drug affordability board.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed four gun safety bills into law on Tuesday and vetoed dozens of others. His actions elicited praise from gun safety advocates and condemnation from Democratic lawmakers who said his efforts to stem gun violence did not go far enough.

We’re about 80 days into the year, and so far, according to Richmond Police, 135 guns have been stolen from people’s cars. It’s a trend that peaked during the pandemic with over 600 guns stolen from Richmonders’ cars in 2022. Governor Glenn Youngkin took action on over three dozen gun bills earlier this week.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Lawmakers debated a proposal to create a $500 fine in Virginia for leaving a handgun visible in an unattended car, with Democrats calling it a small step to address a “significant problem” and Republicans saying it would target gun owners over criminals.

Virginia’s state legislature adjourned on schedule March 9, with members saying they’d balanced the budget and passed a swath of bipartisan legislation. The session—which ran for 60 days—was the first time Democrats held control of the legislature since the election of Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

A new committee in the House of Delegates will focus on access to health care in rural Virginia, House Speaker Don Scott announced Thursday. "For the first time in generations, life expectancy in the United States has decreased," Speaker Don Scott (D – Portsmouth) said in a statement. "This is acute in our rural communities where suicide, overdose deaths, and diabetes are on the rise."

Charlottesville’s lawmakers are in Richmond for the start of Virginia’s new legislative session, which is scheduled to run for 60 days, beginning on January 10. The legislators’ priorities run the gamut, from abortion access to restoration of voting rights.

These maps show which localities are represented in the General Assembly by legislators from a single party — and which ones are represented by legislators from different parties.

House and Senate committee assignments for the 2024 session were announced yesterday. See new and returning members as well as those members who are no longer on the committee.