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Youngkin sets veto record as energy, AI fuel gridlock
Few observers of the Virginia General Assembly expected any groundbreaking legislation to emerge from this election year session, and for the most part, they were right. And Gov. Glenn Youngkin certainly did his part to keep that from happening as well. In the last full year of his term, the Republican firmly cemented his record as the Virginia governor with the most vetoes during his term — more than 400 total. This session alone, he killed 158 bills and amended 159 others.
Statewide Democratic ticket makes landfall in Northern Virginia
On an overcast Friday afternoon, with rain clouds threatening overhead, a large, blue bus pulled into Falls Church’s Eden Center, a Vietnamese-American strip mall known for an abundance of diverse restaurants and small businesses. Exiting the bus were Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, and state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, the newly-minted Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor following a June 17 primary election. Former Del. Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, was already on site awaiting his running mates’ arrival as the statewide “Span Virginia” bus tour made its way to the Eden Center June 27.
N.Va. leaders: Messaging will determine political success or failure in November
Control of state government in 2026 will hinge on which political party better connects with voters’ top concerns in coming months. That’s the view of Del. Marcus Simon (D-13), speaking at a June 28 forum sponsored by NAACP’s Northern Virginia branches. Though the event was a nonpartisan gathering, local politicians weighed in on the Nov. 4 general election that will see the entire House of Delegates and statewide offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general on the ballot.
Virginia’s LGBTQ Caucus reacts to first openly gay candidate for statewide office
As Pride Month comes to a close, Virginia’s 2025 election cycle stands out: the Commonwealth has its first openly gay candidate to run for a statewide office. But members of the state legislature's LGBTQ+ Caucus question if he's got the community's best interests in mind. Celebrating Pride in 2025, with President Donald Trump using the Department of Justice to attack school districts that support LGBTQ students, hasn’t been easy for Delegate Rozia Henson.
Walkinshaw’s primary win buoyed by legacy of late Gerry Connolly
It can be hard to pinpoint where Gerry Connolly ends and where James Walkinshaw begins. Walkinshaw appeared to have no reservations about leaning into his close ties to the longtime representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in his bid to succeed his political mentor and former boss. . . . But once all the votes were tallied on Saturday (June 28) after a blitz of a Democratic primary, Walkinshaw emerged overwhelmingly as the victor, validating the effectiveness of the campaign’s approach.
New laws in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. range from seat belts to taxes
Adults will have to buckle up in the back seat, students give up cellphones in school and large restaurants must quit packing takeout in polystyrene containers in Virginia come Tuesday, when new laws take effect in the Old Dominion. Just across the Potomac, the District will boost its minimum wage and Maryland will hike an array of taxes and fees, launch a teacher-recruitment program and a suicide hotline, and help unemployed parents who owe child support find jobs. As the calendar flips to July 1, Virginia and Maryland mark the start of their respective fiscal years — a moment when most of their new state laws kick in.
New laws taking effect July 1 impact seat belts, waterworks and more
Hundreds of new laws take effect Tuesday, some demanding new habits for many Virginians, like a measure telling adults in the back seat of a car to buckle their seat belts. Some mean change for much smaller groups, like a long-sought law saying politicians can’t use campaign funds for personal expenses. For those keeping score, the General Assembly passed 916 bills. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 721 into law. Most take effect July 1, but some such as House Bill 2036 were deemed emergencies. That bill declared “exhibition driving” — spinning a car by stomping on the brake and the gas pedal at the same time, or carrying people on the roof or hood — to be a misdemeanor.
Here are the new laws going into effect in Virginia on July 1
New laws from Virginia’s General Assembly could soon make a difference in your day-to-day. From seatbelts, to yielding to pedestrians, to even the container that your favorite chain restaurant serves your drink in—beginning on July 1, changes are coming. A number of those zero in on roadway safety, which often starts with the click of a seatbelt.
New State Laws Go Into Effect July 1
More than 80 new laws will take effect across Virginia on July 1, and several of them are designed to protect consumers and make driving safer. Among the new laws is a requirement that all adult passengers in the back seat of vehicles must wear seat belts. Previously, adults in the back seat were exempt from the seat belt rule. Local governments will also have new tools at their disposal to control traffic.
Kaine targets GOP budget bill with amendments to blunt its impact on Virginians
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., filed a series of amendments Monday to the Republican-led budget package moving through Congress, arguing the legislation would slash essential services and disproportionately benefit the wealthy. A member of the Senate Budget Committee, Kaine said his amendments are designed to blunt some of what he called the proposal’s “worst of the worst” provisions.