A circuit court judge ruled that Democrats’ attempts to change the constitution to allow redistricting failed several legal tests. Democratic lawmakers plan to appeal the ruling.
Politics
Energy-efficiency bills clear House committee
The bills would help some residents replace oil and propane heat with electric heat and would study barriers to access for energy-efficiency and weatherization programs.
Bill would set April 21 for redistricting referendum
Democrats have said proposed congressional district maps will be available for voters to see by the end of January.
Pair of bills would look at stripping governance, funding from VMI
Democrats in the General Assembly have made threats against the state-run military college in Lexington since VMI’s board of visitors voted to oust its first black superintendent.
4 Va. lawmakers target rising Appalachian Power bills
The bipartisan group of legislators said Tuesday they will advocate for new laws to help Appalachian Power customers.
A bill to extend standard deduction fails, Democrats and Republicans sound off on paid family medical leave, $15 minimum wage moves forward
Sen. David Suetterlein’s tax bill was continued on to the 2027 session, Del. Joe McNamara warned against Democratic lawmaker’s paid family medical leave bill and a bill to increase the minimum wage made it out of committee.
Photos from the first week of action in Richmond
Here’s how the opening week of the legislature looked through the lens of photojournalist Bob Brown, with emphasis on the delegations from Southwest and Southside:
Spanberger pushes affordability and unity in her first General Assembly address
Gov. Abigail Spanberger also committed to reentering the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and to maintaining Virginia’s so-called “right-to-work” status.
Full text of Spanberger’s address to the General Assembly (and the Republican response)
Here’s what the new govenror had to say in her first speech to the legislature.
Livestream of the governor’s address to the General Assembly
You can watch Gov. Spanberger’s first address to the General Assembly here.

