Virginia Mercury | FFXnow

Published March 8, 2024 at 11:45AM

Cannabis plant (via Rick Proctor on Unsplash)

Hopes that Gov. Glenn Youngkin might sign a bill legalizing retail sales of marijuana in Virginia faded fast this week as Democrats blocked one of the governor’s top priorities: the plan to bring a professional sports arena to Northern Virginia.

As recently as Wednesday, according to multiple Capitol sources, the cannabis bill was being raised in closed-door budget talks with the governor as one of several Democratic priorities that could conceivably have been part of a package deal with the arena.

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Virginia House panel kills bill prohibiting personal use of campaign cash

By Graham Moomaw / Virginia Mercury

Published March 4, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

Without taking a recorded vote, a Virginia House of Delegates committee on Wednesday [Feb. 27] again blocked legislation that would bring the state in line with the rest of the country by banning the personal use of campaign funds.

By a voice vote, the House Appropriations Committee chose to continue the bill until the 2025 General Assembly session.

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Va. lawmakers consider sweeping changes to special education

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published February 5, 2024 at 11:45AM

Books and ABC blocks on a classroom desk (via Element5 Digital on Unsplash)

Two Virginia lawmakers are proposing sweeping measures to improve the state’s provision of special education services as criticisms from parents and the federal government over Virginia’s compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act continue.

Sponsored by Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, and Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, the proposals would create a statewide system to oversee the development and use of individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with special needs, require more training for educators about how to provide inclusive special education instruction, set up eight regional “special education parent support centers” and provide additional specialists to divisions.

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Bills banning legacy admissions clear both Virginia chambers

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published January 31, 2024 at 3:30PM

A woman wearing a college graduation cap (via MD Duran on Unsplash)

Legislation banning Virginia’s public colleges and universities from providing special treatment in admissions decisions to students related to alumni and donors is on track to head to Gov. Glenn Youngkin later this session.

On Tuesday, the Virginia House joined the Senate in passing the proposal on a unanimous vote. Both bills, which are identical, must now pass in the opposite chambers before they are sent to the governor for his approval.

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Va. Senate passes bill creating $500 fine for leaving handguns visible in vehicles

By Graham Moomaw / Virginia Mercury

Published January 29, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated January 31, 2024 at 12:08PM

A handgun with bullets (via Tom Def on Unsplash)

In an attempt to stem what Democratic lawmakers say is an epidemic of guns being stolen from vehicles, the Virginia Senate passed legislation Thursday that would create a $500 civil penalty for firearm owners who leave handguns on a car seat or other areas visible to passersby.

The legislation, one of the first gun control measures put to a full vote in either chamber this year, still needs to pass the House of Delegates and is likely at risk of being vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin after the session ends. Still, the issue highlights the two parties’ diverging views on how to address gun crime, with Democrats trying to reduce the number of guns flowing onto the streets and Republicans calling for tougher enforcement of existing laws.

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Bill to require salary ranges in job posts, bar salary history requests advances

By Sarah Vogelsong / Virginia Mercury

Published January 23, 2024 at 11:45AM

A woman in a job interview (via Tim Gouw on Unsplash)

Amid a docket of new policy proposals, a Virginia Senate panel heard a familiar one Monday when Sen. Jennifer Boysko again presented legislation to require employers to list a wage or salary range in all job postings and prohibit them from asking prospective employees for a salary history.

“This is the eighth time I have introduced this legislation,” Boysko told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee before vowing to keep reintroducing the measure until it reaches the governor’s desk.

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An incoming Virginia delegate wants to expand use of speed cameras

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published January 3, 2024 at 1:15PM

A sign signals the start of a school zone in Fairfax monitored by a speed camera (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

When they reconvene this month, Virginia lawmakers will consider a proposal to allow local governments to install speed cameras wherever they deem them necessary, with penalties of up to $100 for violations.

Bill patron Del.-elect Mike Jones, D-Richmond, said the legislation is intended to increase speed enforcement and reduce the number of traffic fatalities.

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Youngkin budget calls for income tax cuts, sales tax increases

By Virginia Mercury

Published December 21, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated December 21, 2023 at 5:00PM

The new Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond (via Virginia House of Delegates/Flickr)

At the halfway point of his administration, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled a budget proposal that calls for significant income tax cuts, increases in state sales and use tax — and a push to get rid of the car tax, which the Republican called “the single most hated tax” in Virginia.

“The car tax belongs in the trash can and not in your mailbox,” he said.

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Virginia Board of Education backs new funding formula for school divisions

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published December 15, 2023 at 11:00AM

Students in a classroom (via Taylor Flowe on Unsplash)

The Virginia Board of Education is asking the General Assembly to develop a plan for changing the state’s existing school funding formula to help divisions strapped for money but isn’t backing a proposal to remove a cap that limits the number of support positions the state will fund.

According to an earlier report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts analysis and provides oversight of state agencies on behalf of the General Assembly, changing the formula could help address the underfunding of schools.

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Dems reintroduce bill to let Virginia localities fund school capital projects through sales tax

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published December 12, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County Public Schools' current capital projects include construction on an addition to Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Democrats are again pushing for legislation that would allow local governments to hold referenda on increasing their sales and use tax to pay for school capital projects such as construction and renovations.

The party hopes the effort, which has been tried twice before but defeated by Republicans, will be successful now that Democrats are set to control both the House of Delegates and the Senate following the November elections.