Posts Tagged General Assembly 2023

12 Virginia Delegates are hoping to move to the state Senate

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20 members of the House of Delegates are retiring and saying goodbye to the General Assembly. And as Michael Pope tells us, another 12 delegates are hoping to move over to the Senate.

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Right now, there’s no rush on the state budget

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Lawmakers now have finished their one-day reconvene session and taken action on all the governor’s amendments and vetoes. But Michael Pope reports the budget remains a work in progress.

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The General Assembly backs controversial THC amendment

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Members of the General Assembly are considering amendments from the governor. And as Michael Pope reports, they are giving a stamp of approval to some controversial changes to a bill about marijuana.

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Here’s what to expect from this week’s veto session

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Lawmakers are returning to Richmond Wednesday for a spring session of the General Assembly. Michael Pope has this preview.

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A look at Youngkin amendments that deal with internet safety

Lawmakers will be returning to Richmond next week to consider amendments from the governor. Michael Pope tells us about one of the amendments on internet safety.

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Utility regulation will be on the agenda for state lawmakers next month

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Members of the General Assembly will be returning to the Capitol April 12th to consider amendments from the governor. Michael Pope reports that some of the amendments might influence your power bill.

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Governor Youngkin amends THC legislation

Governor Glenn Youngkin is rolling out his amendments to legislation this week. And as Michael Pope reports, one set of amendments is aimed at products with THC currently available on store shelves.

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What did state lawmakers accomplish during the 2023 session?

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Lawmakers ended their session without approving a budget. But as Michael Pope reports, they were able to claim some other accomplishments.

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House Democrats try unsuccessfully to change rules to force abortion rights vote

Democrats are trying to use a change to the rules of the House as a way to spotlight abortion protections. Michael Pope reports.

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This will be the last General Assembly session for many lawmakers

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Many members of the General Assembly will be ending their session for the last time this year. Michael Pope reports.

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State lawmakers unlikely to move forward with a marijuana marketplace this year

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Lawmakers are wrapping up their General Assembly session this year.  Michael Pope reports they are likely to leave town without taking action on creating a retail market for marijuana.

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The effort to allow a casino referendum in Petersburg is dead, but the debate rolls on

Virginia now has four casinos that are up and running or will be soon, and as Michael Pope reports, lawmakers in Richmond are debating where to put a fifth.

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Virginia House and Senate at odds over electric utility regulation

Lawmakers are wrestling with the details of how electric regulation should work and what kind of profit the utility providers should make. Michael Pope reports.

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Will state lawmakers come to a budget agreement this week?

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Members of the General Assembly are expected to end their legislative session this weekend. But, as Michael Pope reports, they might end up leaving town without passing a budget.

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Descendants of Massive Resistance victims may soon be eligible for scholarships

Governor Glenn Youngkin is considering a bill aimed at providing reparations for massive resistance. Michael Pope reports.

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Should kratom products sold in Virginia come with a warning label?

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Lawmakers are considering a bill that would require new warning labels for kratom. Michael Pope reports.

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Could Virginia soon have an official pony?

Virginia may be about to get a new official state pony. Michael Pope reports.

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Lawmakers unlikely to pass resolution acknowledging a dark chapter in Virginia history

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An effort that would’ve required Virginia to acknowledge the unethical use of Black bodies by medical institutions is on hold for now. Michael Pope explains.

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A bill creating a psilocybin advisory board has failed

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Lawmakers in Richmond have legalized marijuana although they are still working on creating a retail market. Meanwhile, as Michael Pope tells us, they’re also debating the use of psychedelic mushrooms.

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Should bicycles be required to stop at intersections?

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Lawmakers in Richmond are debating how automobiles and bicycles can share the road. Michael Pope reports.

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A bill aimed at transgender youth is expected to die in the state Senate later this week

Lawmakers in Richmond are considering bills aimed at transgender youth. Michael Pope reports.

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A bill protecting medical workers from violence has bipartisan support

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Physicians and health providers may be about to get new protections against violence. Michael Pope explains. 

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Another bill backed by Governor Youngkin is dead for the session

Virginia’s governor may be one of the most powerful governors in the country. But, as Michael Pope reports, he still has to deal with a legislature that can derail his agenda.

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A compromise effort on prison phone calls is moving forward

Members of the General Assembly are debating a bill that would help people who are incarcerated stay connected to their families and their communities. Michael Pope reports.

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The General Assembly has a long way to go on the budget

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As lawmakers move toward the end of their General Assembly session later this month, several key lawmakers will be focused on balancing the books. Michael Pope reports.

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The General Assembly debates controversial books

Lawmakers in Richmond are debating what kind of books should be allowed in public school libraries. Michael Pope has the story.

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A bill related to transgender students cleared the House, faces certain death in the Senate

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Republicans in the General Assembly are supporting two bills that transgender activists say could be dangerous. Michael Pope reports.

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State lawmakers can’t agree on which city should get a casino referendum next

Lawmakers are struggling over where to locate Virginia’s next casino. Michael Pope reports.

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A bill protecting bus drivers advances to the Virginia Senate

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Mandatory minimum sentences have been controversial for years, and Democrats have tried to give judges more autonomy to make decisions about individual cases. But Michael Pope reports there’s at least one area where Democrats want mandatory minimum sentences.

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State lawmakers say Virginia needs a unified approach to gambling regulation

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Recent years have seen an explosion of legal gambling options in Virginia. And, as Michael Pope tells us, lawmakers are now talking about creating a gambling commission to oversee the industry.

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Virginia abortion-rights opponents march for the first time post-Roe

Thousands of people standing in opposition to abortion rights gathered at the Capitol today. Michael Pope reports.

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State lawmakers are scrambling to balance the budget following education accounting error

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Senior members of the money committees and the House and Senate are working to fix a budgeting mistake that has lawmakers scrambling to balance the books. Michael Pope has the latest.

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Bill requiring safe storage of firearms clears Senate, faces uphill battle in House

The recent shooting at a Newport News elementary school has some calling for safe storage requirements for firearms. Michael Pope reports on one piece of legislation at the General Assembly.

Also Tuesday, the Senate approved legislation banning the sale of assault-style weapons.

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House Democrats blast into Youngkin administration over Department of Education error

Lawmakers are preparing to release budget details this weekend, although as Michael Pope reports, they’re having a hard time balancing the books, especially for schools.

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The momentum around banning solitary confinement in Virginia continues to grow

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Once again, lawmakers in Richmond are talking about banning the practice of holding incarcerated people in solitary confinement. But, as Michael Pope reports, this year the effort has new momentum.

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Where will Virginia’s next casino project end up?

Lawmakers are about to roll the dice on casinos, and a bill to allow for a referendum in Petersburg has already cleared an early hurdle. Michael Pope has the story.

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State lawmakers consider regulations for payday lending apps

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Opponents of payday lending are worried about a bill making its way through the House of Delegates. Michael Pope explains why.

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It doesn’t look likely state lawmakers will expand ranked choice voting this year

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Lawmakers will be on the ballot this year and, as Michael Pope tells us, they’ll also be making decisions about how the ballot is organized.

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State lawmakers are debating several bills related to public school libraries

Public school libraries are the focus of several bills in the General Assembly this year. Michael Pope reports.

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Smart thermostat legislation cools in Virginia Senate

Smart technology is leading to new fears among lawmakers. Michael Pope reports.

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Gun control legislation moves forward in Virginia Senate, faces tough odds in the House

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Lawmakers in Richmond are not expected to pass any new legislation to crack down on gun violence this year. But, as Michael Pope tells us, that doesn’t mean they won’t try.

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Senate committee strikes down several abortion-related bills

Governor Glenn Youngkin campaigned on a platform of limiting abortions with a 15-week ban. But Democrats in the Senate are rejecting any new restrictions. Michael Pope reports.

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Efforts to roll back voting access have already been struck down

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Democrats appear to be poised to reject Republican efforts to roll back access to voting. Michael Pope reports.

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Virginia Senators defeat effort to further cut the grocery tax, House bills remain

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Last year, members of the General Assembly got rid of the state portion of the grocery tax. Now, as Michael Pope reports, lawmakers are considering several bills to get rid of the rest of it.

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Some lawmakers want to limit data center spread

Loudoun County is known throughout the world for its concentration of data centers, although as Michael Pope reports several lawmakers are trying to prevent them from spreading out into new areas.

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Could Virginia drop voter drop boxes?

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In the last few years, Virginia has made many changes to how elections work. Michael Pope has this report on efforts to roll back some of those changes.

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An effort to punish drug dealers in fatal overdose cases may already be over

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The governor wants to crack down on dealers who supply drugs that result in fatal overdoses. But, Michael Pope reports some recovery advocates fear that might backfire.

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An effort to ban solitary confinement in Virginia is moving forward

State Senator Joe Morrissey

Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a bill that would prohibit people who are incarcerated from being held in solitary confinement. Michael Pope has the story.

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Abortion will be a hot topic in Richmond this year, just don’t expect much to change

Governor Glenn Youngkin lays out his 2023 agenda during his annual State of the Commonwealth address. (Credit: Michael Pope)

Abortion is likely to be one of the hottest topics the General Assembly will consider this year. But, as Michael Pope tells us, don’t expect much to happen as a result.

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The 2023 General Assembly session is now underway

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Lawmakers are back in Richmond for the 2023 General Assembly session. And as Michael Pope reports, sparks are already flying.

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