A helpful rollup of some of the housing bills I have been tracking and some I didn't know about. Giving localities the ability to enforce safe living conditions for renters is extremely interesting. #VALeg #housing #Virginia […]
Inbox: Va. Republicans are calling for a 90-day suspension of the state’s gas tax, saying rising fuel prices are hitting families and urging Democrats to act.
GOP leaders say the roughly 32-cent-per-gallon tax could be paused using state reserves. #valeg
Electric Utilities and Energy Storage Facilities (HB 893) has been passed by the General Assembly and is on its way to the Governor’s desk to be signed!
Thank you to the bill patron, Delegate Rip Sullivan!
#VALeg #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyStorage
The Golden to Mars transmission lines in Loudoun have been controversial for the residents there who are pleading with the SCC to order the lines be buried. New legislation sitting on the gov's desk helps set up a pilot program to do so. #valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/03/24/a...
Helpful rundown on this legislative session in Virginia focusing on the Bay #SaveTheBay #VALeg #conservation #Flood #RGGI #CleanWater #TreeCanopy https://www.cbf.org/virginia-legislative-session/
The Fluvanna Board of Supervisors reversed the planning commission's vote that Tenaska's proposed second gas plant was not congruent with the county's comprehensive plan. Now the project moves on to the next round of permit applications. #valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/briefs/despi...
7. Support for nonprofit affordable housing development (YIGBY), passed. Similar to efforts in Charlottesville, this allows many nonprofit landowners like houses of worship to build affordable housing by right if they can get the funding support to do it. #YIGBY #housing #VALeg […]
6. Right of first refusal on publicly supported housing, passed. Similar to the mobile home park bill I talk about above, this gives localities a chance to protect below market rate homes after their terms of subsidy expire, preventing mass displacement for relatively low cost. #housing #VALeg […]
5. Greater tree canopy zoning powers, awaiting Governor's action. This was a major ask from the public in the local zoning rewrite but we were limited by state regs. Should this pass, we can increase protections in sensitive areas like flood plains and along rivers and streams. #VALeg […]
Fourth, clarifying legal standing for zoning litigation did not pass. In years past we did have an informal standard here in Virginia similar to Texas’s formal written standard but have lost that. Hopefully we can get this right next year. City staff have a couple of good ideas I think will work […]
Third, permission to reduce taxes on structures and raise them on land, waiting for the Governor’s action. We joined with our friends in Falls Church, Fredericksburg, and Newport News on this. The idea is to reduce displacement while encouraging maintenance and investment […]
Second, Accessory Dwelling Units (AKA Granny Flats) permitted statewide, waits for the Governor’s action. This is something Charlottesville already does, but most other localities in Virginia have not. By acting together, we can create a strong market to provide standard affordable solutions for […]
First up, should the Governor wish to sign there will be a right of first refusal giving mobile home park residents time to work with nonprofits and local government to buy their homes, preventing shocking mass displacement. This has been a repeated challenge here in Charlottesville because of […]
Been a bit, hello again all. I think the most interesting thing that happened while the server was down is I did a quick analysis of what legislative changes the Charlottesville Planning Commission requested and Council approved and what came. I count seven bills introduced and six passed and […]
How to regulate data centers was a major question in the General Assembly. See what ended up passing. #valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/03/17/d...
Unrelated Question: why are they not naming this referendum Question 1? #valeg
This is the gun industry’s entire philosophy in one image: more firepower, more danger for everyone else.
Proud of the work Brady and our grassroots advocates to elect gun violence prevention leaders in Richmond. These policies will save countless lives. #VAleg
Five years after Virginia legalized adult-use cannabis, the General Assembly has approved legislation to finally create a retail market.
The Senate passed the bill 21–18 on Friday, the House just approved it by 64-32. If enacted, retail sales would begin Jan. 1, 2027. #valeg
Republican Del. Terry Austin and Democrat Del. Luke Torian — both heavyweights on House Appropriations — sharing a quick, bipartisan huddle on the House floor. #valeg
Faith in Housing legislation passes Senate as they approve Conference Committee version, now to House for approval in #VALeg
After facing major pushback, the bill that aimed to require recreational crabbers to put terrapin by-catch devices on their pots to prevent the reptiles from drowning failed to make it through the General Assembly. #valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/03/13/v...
Chesterfield schools closing for the April 21 special election because “robust turnout” is expected for Virginia’s redistricting referendum.
Nothing says civic enthusiasm like canceling school for a ballot question most voters still can’t explain. 😬
#valeg
Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus stand along the front of a room facing the audience. The VLBC logo appears on the front of a podium
It was great to hear from @vablackcaucus.bsky.social members this AM about their work this #VaLeg session to improve the lives of people in Virginia in the areas of health care, housing, child care, safer communities, and protecting democracy & civil rights
#FreeFromFear #StandingOnBusiness
Big win: Virginia just became the 2nd state to pass #BalconySolar, letting renters & condo dwellers plug into our affordable clean energy future. Many thanks to patrons @ssurovell.bsky.social & @paulkrizek.bsky.social! Next stop: Gov. Spanberger’s desk.
ccanactionfund.org/balcony-sola...
#valeg
“Grow up!”
Former Del. A.C. Cordoza defends controversial civil-rights-themed mailers opposing Virginia’s redistricting referendum Tuesday as Black conservatives joined the fight.
Democrats blasted the tactic as misleading and “stupid.” #valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/03/10/g...
Bills to allow small portable solar panels in rentals are soon to head to Gov. Spanberger's desk. The aim is to save folks money by generating small amounts of their own power. #valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/03/10/p...
Despite advisories being lifted following the massive sewage spill into the Potomac River, some are saying the public still don't want to go near it -- which is hurting business. #valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/03/09/a...
progressandpoverty.substack.com/p/boom-unanimous-vote-pu... “With the passage of HB 282, Virginia now appears perfectly-poised to actually implement LVT. Perhaps Charlottesville will be the first city to try it out.” #cville #TaxReform #housing #SplitRateTaxation #VALeg
