Plus: Gov. Abigail Spanberger issues more board appointments, and a new head to lead the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
Elizabeth Beyer
Elizabeth Beyer is our Richmond-based state politics and government reporter.
Posted inPolitics
General Assembly passes Spanberger’s budget amendments, biennial budget is finalized
The House and Senate approved all 14 of Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s amendments to the spending bill in a move that brought an end to the nearly half-year-long budget uncertainty.
Posted inPolitics
Notes from the Square: 2 former 6th District competitors swap endorsements
Plus: Attorney General Jay Jones issues a message to the firearm industry and $6.19 million to be disbursed from the EPA to clean up brownfields in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
Posted inPolitics
Background checks for private firearm sales to resume July 1
A Lynchburg Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of Attorney General Jay Jones’ request for a dissolution of an injunction that halted private sale background checks, off and on, since October.
Posted inPolitics
General Assembly passes a budget, consumption tax for data centers included
The spending bill will now head to Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who will have line-item veto authority over the legislation.
Posted inPolitics
Notes from the Square: Spotsylvania judge denies request for an injunction against assault weapons ban
Plus: Early voting for the Aug. 4 primary elections began in most localities on Thursday. And what’s agrivoltaics?
Posted inPolitics
State Senate drops tax exemptions in budget fight, introduces ‘impact fees’ for data centers
The state Senate had insisted on ending data center tax exemptions in 2027, eight years earlier than their scheduled expiration. That issue had become a sticking point between the state Senate and the House of Delegates in biennial budget talks.
Posted inPolitics
Spanberger, legislators announce agreement on legal cannabis sales
The plan calls for legal sales to start in July 2027.
Posted inPolitics
House budget conferees unveil their latest spending proposal, legal cannabis and a data center accountability commission included
The House proposal does not include ending data center tax exemptions early. Gov. Spanberger has issued her support of the proposal.
Posted inPolitics
Notes from the Square: Budget negotiations face another breakdown
Plus: An appeal for assistance for farmers, an update to FEMA aid, university board appointments and a victory for a coalition of attorneys general suing the Trump administration over SNAP changes.
