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Subcommittee advances bill prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination
RICHMOND — A General Assembly subcommittee advanced a bill Thursday that would prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, public accommodations, employment and credit applications. Lawmakers suggested expanding the focus of a bill introduced by Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond,[...]
State awards nearly $12M in affordable housing funds
The state will allocate nearly $12 million to affordable housing and homelessness reduction programs throughout the state, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The funding includes $10.7 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) loans for 12 projects, which will create or preserve 607 affordable housing units for low-income Virginians, and $1.2 million in grants […]
Bill defining milk aims to give dairy farmers supermarket advantage
RICHMOND, Va. — As people drink less dairy milk and some turn to plant-based alternatives such as oat, soy and almond milk, dairy farmers say they’re struggling. That’s why Virginia is the latest state to advance legislation restricting the use of the word milk for marketing purposes. Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, introduced House Bill […]
State announces $18.3M in broadband grants
The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) will award more than $18.3 million in grants to 12 broadband expansion projects in the state, mainly in rural areas, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The grants are expected to connect about 36,000 households, according to a press release. The governor’s proposed 2020-21 budget adds $16 million to the $19 […]
Court upholds Northam’s firearms ban for Capitol rally
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor issued a ruling Thursday upholding Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order to temporarily ban firearms from the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol in advance of a Jan. 20 pro-gun rights rally expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. Northam had issued a state of eme[...]
House committee tackles consumer protections and cybersecurity
RICHMOND, Va. — In one of the more modern meeting rooms at the over two centuries old State Capitol, 22 lawmakers gather on Mondays to confront the increasing cybersecurity threats looming over Virginia residents. This session the House Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation will consider a variety of issue[...]
‘The end is in sight’: ERA moves closer to ratification in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. — Resolutions to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment swiftly passed the General Assembly Wednesday. The House version passed 59-41 and the Senate bill cleared with a 28-12 vote. The next step will be for each resolution to pass the other chamber, sometime in February. “As the House sponsor of the bill, it is [...]
Northam declares state of emergency ahead of Capitol gun rights protest
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency Wednesday in advance of expected gun-rights demonstrations scheduled for Capital Square on Monday, Jan. 20 . Law enforcement intelligence analysts identified credible threats of violence surrounding the event, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of demonstrators, Northam said. The threats include white nationalist rhetoric […][...]
DMAS surveys new Medicaid enrollees
At the one-year mark for Medicaid expansion in Virginia, the number of newly enrolled adults in Medicaid has nearly doubled from 200,100 to 370,000. And survey data from an online dashboard released Tuesday by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) indicates that before gaining health coverage from Medicaid, nearly two-thirds of enrollees went […]
State General Fund revenues increased 7.6% in December
Total state General Fund revenues rose 7.6% in December with help from growth in payroll withholding, sales and use taxes and recordation tax collections, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. “This continued strong revenue performance gives us confidence that we can achieve the forward-looking agenda I have laid out, while also putting money into our cash […]
Bipartisan bill seeks to demonopolize state electric energy market
State Dels. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax, and Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, held a press conference Tuesday to announce a bipartisan legislative effort to demonopolize Virginia’s electric energy market. The Virginia Energy Reform Act — which does not yet have a bill number —would establish a competitive market for electricity retailers; r[...]
State Democrats unveil 2020 legislative agenda
Gov. Ralph Northam and the leaders of the state legislature’s new Democratic majority unveiled their 11-point ‘Virginia 2020 Plan’ for the General Assembly session that begins Wednesday. House Speaker-designee Eileen Filler-Corn, incoming Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, incoming House Majority Leader Charniele Herring and incoming Senate Caucus Chair Mamie Locke announced the plan with […][...]
