A bill by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax County, to establish a task force to determine whether the Virginia Military Institute should continue to be a state-sponsored higher education institution was reported out of committee in a 10-6 vote on Tuesday. Its next stop will be the House of Delegates floor for a vote.
Helmer said, in an interview on Wednesday, the task force’s charge would be twofold: to evaluate the quality of education received by cadets and to determine whether the institution is able to move past its history and “embrace an inclusive view of Virginia.”
Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt County, represents the House of Delegates district that includes VMI. He voted not to report the bill from the House of Delegates Rules Committee out of principle, he said.
“I know VMI has had its challenges in the past, I know there have been mistakes made in the past at VMI and I know that I, myself, as a legislator representing VMI, am willing to carry them forward to make certain we correct those problems,” Austin said. “We’ll do our very best to adhere to whatever that report produces.”
The legislative move is among the latest developments in a fight that began between Virginia Senate Democrats and then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin early last year. They’re also a continuation of the tension that’s been brewing at the institute ever since former Gov. Ralph Northam ordered an investigation of the school in fall 2020. That investigation and the replacement of VMI’s superintendent led to a push by some alumni for Youngkin to rein in what they saw as the school’s “woke” culture adjustments.
Lexington-based VMI has been under fire from some General Assembly Democrats since its board voted in February 2025 not to renew the contract of Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, the first Black superintendent of VMI. The board has not explained why Wins was removed, indicating only that performance and “institutional needs” were considered.
Helmer confirmed that his bill is a direct result of Wins’ ouster.
Franklin’s study to repeal car tax makes it out of committee
A joint resolution introduced by freshman Del. Lily Franklin, D-Montgomery County, to study the feasibility of repealing the much maligned car tax, made it out of the House of Delegates Rules Committee on Tuesday in a 11-6 vote. Its next stop will be the House floor.
Franklin’s HJ 34 would direct the Department of Taxation to study options for abolishing the personal property tax for certain vehicles, and to evaluate other local revenue sources to account for a shortfall in local tax revenues if the car tax were to be repealed.
Sen. Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax County, has a similar measure in the Senate.
Rocky Mount term limits measure dies in committee
Rocky Mount’s bid for a new charter that imposes term limits has died a quick and mostly silent death in a House committee.
An attorney for the House Cities, Counties and Town Committee advised that the the term limits provision violates the state consitution. An attorney general’s opinion in 1991 also advised that term limits were unconstitutional.
With that, the panel voted 17-2 to kill the measure with a procedural motion of “laying it on the table.”
Rocky Mount’s quest for term limits has failed in previous sessions after concerns were raised that the bill would violate the state constitution. (See our previous coverage.)
