Northern Virginia leaders are treading cautiously with newly granted power to increase the sales tax in local jurisdictions.
Under the biennial state budget adopted in Richmond late last month, Northern Virginia localities now have the power to hold voter referendums to increase sales taxes by up to 1%, with the extra funding going to transportation, education or a combination.
Virginia is facing another lawsuit over its newly adopted but not-yet-enacted ban on future sales and manufacturing of assault firearms.
The Trump administration sued the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia State Police in federal court today (Wednesday), arguing that its planned restrictions on gun sales violate the Second Amendment.
More than 1,100 bills came out of this year’s Virginia General Assembly session, and many will take effect tomorrow (Wednesday).
After Democrats gained a trifecta with last year’s election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and control of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, legislators’ bills focused on priorities like immigration enforcement, gun control, housing and tenant protections, reproductive rights and more.
A Virginia judge has hit pause on a new state law prohibiting assault weapons, preventing it from taking effect next week as planned.
The legislation, introduced by Fairfax County state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37) and Del. Dan Helmer (D-10), was scheduled to ban the sale and manufacturing of assault-style firearms starting July 1. But yesterday (Thursday), a judge in Lancaster County issued an injunction that puts the law on hold amid a pending lawsuit and directs Virginia State Police to not enforce the ban.
Virginia lawmakers want to examine consolidating Northern Virginia’s transit agencies to assess potential cost savings and service improvements.
The proposal, which is included in the two-year budget lawmakers passed Monday, directs the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to include in its report not only the cost savings and long-term financial impacts of merging multiple systems, but also how potential changes would affect riders through fare structures, service reliability and accessibility.
With the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial just a stone’s throw away, Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed landmark reproductive freedom and contraception access legislation Wednesday during a ceremony at Occoquan Regional Park.
The new law, the governor said, protects the right of Virginia women to access and use birth control and reduces the cost of contraception across the commonwealth.
Two state laws sponsored by state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37) seeking to restrain federal immigration enforcement agents are being challenged by the Trump administration’s Justice Department.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s Richmond Division last Thursday (June 11), challenges Virginia’s incoming ban on law enforcement officers wearing face masks and restrictions on cooperation agreements between federal immigration enforcement and state and local law enforcement agencies.
After vetoing legislation last month that would’ve established a retail market for cannabis, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has agreed to establish a market through an addition to the state budget.
The compromise between Spanberger, Fairfax County Del. Paul Krizek (D-16) and state Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D-13) would allow recreational marijuana sales to begin on July 1, 2027. The governor’s office says this allows time for the Cannabis Control Authority to develop regulations, testing and safety standards and oversight framework.
Local and state police will soon be allowed to enforce speed limits and other traffic laws on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, though drivers might not see an immediate increase in officers and troopers.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 81 in April authorizing state and local law enforcement officers to cite drivers for traffic infractions on federal highways in Northern Virginia, starting on July 1. Local agencies can also seek the federal government’s permission to install automated speed monitoring cameras.
Fairfax County leaders are reacting with a mix of anxiety and irritation to the continued lack of a state government budget.
“This is not a trivial issue — it’s not the way a state like Virginia should be acting,” Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting today (Tuesday).
