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4 days ago
- Health
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FOIA Friday: Connolly questioned public health agency FOIA accessibility before his death
(Photo by Getty Images) One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth's leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise. In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small — and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating. Shortly before his late-May death, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, expressed concern about the termination of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staffers who handled Freedom of Information Act requests. It was one of his final acts as a member of Congress before passing away following an extended battle with cancer. In his letter to the CDC's acting director, Connolly said that 'the elimination of staff responsible for facilitating FOIA strongly implies an effort by the administration to prevent the public from obtaining information about their government that they are entitled to request.' The staff cuts come as FOIA officers at the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services were also let go. Connolly also pointed out that several outbreaks of infectious disease have been reported across the country. 'Now more than ever, maintaining transparency about the operations of the broader HHS — and CDC in particular — is crucial to understanding the government's capacity to respond to such crises.' Some outbreaks are currently noted on CDC's website, but with no FOIA-dedicated staff to handle records requests, it may be harder for journalists and citizens to seek further information that could aid public health. Records obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch show that a former Richmond Fire Department employee spent over $800,000 at a company registered to his home between 2017 and 2024. Reginald Thomas, a former analyst for RFD, used his city credit card, purchase orders and invoices to spend money at RPM Supply Co., LLC. The entity is registered to a house in Henrico County that he and his wife own. Though Richmond city officials did not say how much, if any, of the total was spent on legitimate products or services, they did confirm that he is no longer an employee. His conduct has since become the subject of two investigations — one by Richmond's auditor and another by the city's inspector general. The investigation into Thomas is among the latest actions the city has taken to address a history of funding issues tied to card misuse by employees. This spring, Mayor Danny Avula announced restrictions on employees' use of purchasing cards for several months while leaders re-evaluate how employee spending is handled overall. Last year, the inspector general found that nearly $500,000 in RIchmond tax dollars were wasted or misused through use of employees' cards. The Mercury's efforts to track FOIA and other transparency cases in Virginia are indebted to the work of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit alliance dedicated to expanding access to government records, meetings and other state and local proceedings. Recently, Virginia's Department of Corrections announced and celebrated low recidivism rates, but not mentioned in the agency's news release was a note from the department's research team suggesting the achievement was due to the effects of COVID-19 on Virginia's court system. Recividism — when former prisoners reoffend and end up back in prison — is a metric law enforcement agencies often use to measure the success of rehabilitation programs or other efforts to lower crime rates. Prison reform advocates and rehabilitation advocates also view these metrics as either calls to action or reasons to celebrate programs that may benefit incarcerated people, their families, and the communities to which they return. The latest announcement from the state focuses on recidivism among former prisoners released between July 2020 and June 2021 and only examines people who returned to prison within three years of release — not those who were rearrested during the same time period, Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. About 17% of released prisoners landed back in prison, while 44% were rearrested, according to the report. While rearrests were higher, those numbers aren't counted as recidivism. Because the state's definition ties recidivism to reincarceration, it is influenced by how quickly courts deliver verdicts — and Virginia's courts were under emergency orders that slowed proceedings until the summer of 2022. 'Re-incarceration rates are lower during follow-up years impacted by COVID-19 due to court closures and sentencing delays,' the research team wrote in its report. Kyle Gibson, a spokesperson for VADOC, acknowledged that recidivism rates were lower due to COVID-19, 'but VADOC cannot conclusively say that the pandemic was the sole cause of the lower rates.' Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking reelection this year, has emphasized on social media that the low recidivism rate supports his tough-on-crime approach as the state's top lawyer. In a post to X, he said there are two approaches to lowering the rate: 'hold violent repeat offenders accountable or let them out early.' 'For four years, I've fought to put violent criminals behind bars while leftist politicians demanded leniency and reduced sentences,' he added. 'We see which approach works.' While the recidivism rates have declined over the past decade, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis, the time frame that VADOC recently celebrated occurred prior to Miyares taking office. Without city council approval, the city of Roanoke overspent by $5 million last year, WSLS reported. A recent audit of expenditures found that the city's general fund exceeded the final budget. 'We are stewards of taxpayer dollars,' said newer council member Nick Hagen, who joined the city's legislative body after the issues occurred. 'They're not ours — they're the people's.' He suspected staff turnover might be part of the problem with lack of budget oversight. This is because the former city manager had stepped down, a successor was appointed, and a new city council took office. The audit also revealed that much of the overspending came from the Children's Services Act — which funds services for at-risk youth — and the city's fire department, which faced rising overtime costs and implemented pay increases. Still, to ensure spending is justified and remains within budget, WSLS reported that the city claimed to be implementing reforms. There will be more frequent budget reviews going forward, new staff will be hired, and stricter internal protocols will be put in place. Have you experienced local or state officials denying or delaying your FOIA request? Tell us about it: info@ SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Youngkin carves out $900 million as Virginia prepares for Trump-era uncertainty
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks with reporters in Richmond on May 2, 2025. (Photo By Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) What began as a session focused on how to spend Virginia's projected multi-billion surplus has ended with Gov. Glenn Youngkin yanking nearly $900 million out of the state budget — bracing for the economic aftershocks of President Donald Trump's new administration. At the start of the 2025 legislative session both Youngkin and members of Virginia's General Assembly had their eyes on how best to use the windfall. But after Trump took office in late January, Youngkin announced Friday that he was setting aside a $900 million cushion to prepare for potential federal impacts. A good portion of the money stems from cutting one-time capital projects at colleges and universities and other public facilities which Youngkin said are still in the planning stages and haven't yet entered construction. Amid Trump's cuts to federal workers, congressional plans to trim federal funding, and fresh tariffs rattling international trade, Youngkin has repeatedly emphasized 'short-term risks' and 'short-term disruptions' as reasons to hold back spending. 'As President Trump rightfully resets trade imbalances and restores fiscal responsibility in DC,' Youngkin said as he announced he was signing the state budget on Friday. 'Those short term disruptions, I think, require us to be responsible and not spend 100% of this forecasted surplus today.' House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, commended Youngkin's actions as 'prudent' in a statement issued on Friday. He added that 'Virginia is better positioned to weather whatever comes next.' Senate Majority Leader Scott Surrovell, D-Fairfax expressed frustration in a call with reporters Friday afternoon. 'I'm glad to see the governor is finally agreeing with us that the Virginia economy has some serious risk due to the actions of President Trump and Elon Musk,' Senate Surovell said on the call following Youngkin's announcement. However, he criticized Youngkin for not conferring with lawmakers on his budget cuts. 'He should have had a dialogue with us during the session so he could try to reach a mutual understanding or compromise about it, instead of showing up at the last minute, $900 million out of our budget,' Surrovell said. Meanwhile, the governor may have pleased many lawmakers by deciding to sign bills he had previously tried to alter. When the legislature convened last month to review his amendments, they chose not to accept many of the amendments or substitutions he proposed when they sent the bills back to him for final signature or veto. They'd also accepted his recommendations in part on some of the bills as well. 'There are a lot of bills that I think are very interesting that I hadn't seen before that we tried to make a little better,' Youngkin said. 'Didn't get the amendments passed, but I'm going to sign them because I think they actually are pretty decent bills.' For instance, Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico saw several of his returned bills signed to include an overhaul of Standards of Learning testing procedures and a bill to require social media companies verify the age of users and place time limits for minors under 16. Delegates Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax and Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, respectively carried the House versions of the bills. The governor also vetoed bills that had been sent back to him with his amendments rejected. Such was the case with proposals from Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, that would create a right to contraception in Virginia. The lawmakers have stressed in recent years that state-level protections could be needed if two U.S. Supreme Court cases upholding contraception rights were overturned. After the fall of Roe v. Wade, the federal case that had protected abortion access, Justice Clarence Thomas expressed interest in revisiting the court's previous contraception rulings. While his counterparts have not signaled similar interest, some states have sought to restrict contraception, while others have worked to shore up protections. Like last year, Youngkin tried to amend Hashmi and Price's bills to line up with the Supreme Court, which the lawmakers said 'gutted' the bills and missed the point. The Democratic-controlled legislature rejected his substitute, and he later rejected their bills altogether — just as he did this year. Meanwhile, on Friday, Youngkin celebrated some of the ways the state budget will support people, including investments in maternal health, which drew cheers from attendees. Both Youngkin and Democratic lawmakers had emphasized the need for legislation and funding to address maternal health disparities in the state, and the governor has already backed several bills carried by Democrats as well. The budget also includes $50 million for disaster response relief in Southwest Virginia and $50 million for community flood protection funding. A years-long effort — which had previously failed — to budget $50 million to overhaul Richmond's combined sewage overflow system survived this time around. Following Richmond's water crisis earlier this year, when water treatment plant failures left the region with unsafe drinking water for nearly a week, Youngkin also announced plans to invest $25 million in drinking water infrastructure. He received applause from the audience when he mentioned the budget's investment in education — $834 million in public education, which includes lifting support caps, investments for English language learners, investment in special education, and $7.5 million earmarked to help reduce child care waitlists. There's also $134 million, he said, to fund 'much deserved bonuses for our teachers.' Youngkin also emphasized that the budget includes funding for Medicaid — a program that may still face some jeopardy in the state amid federal actions. Should congress cut federal spending, Virginia's 2018 expansion, which affects roughly 630,000 people, could be at risk. Some lawmakers have suggested that a special session might be needed to figure out how to cover those costs if that happens, while Youngkin said Friday he believes there are ways to streamline the program's operations in the state to look for 'waste, fraud and abuse.' As it's his final year as governor, Youngkin said he plans to address his cuts to capital projects in a 'caboose budget' later this year. In that proposal he can outline what he envisions the legislature with as they head into the 2026 legislative session under whoever the new governor ends up being. 'We can postpone the final appropriation for these very worthy projects and enable the General Assembly to take it back up in January,' Youngkin said. 'I would really like to include them in my introduced caboose budget, and then the General Assembly can get to work.'SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Youngkin signs budget bill with $900 million in cuts
RICHMOND — Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the budget bill Friday with 37 line-item vetoes, amounting to $900 million in cuts. He cited potential financial instability based on tariffs and workforce reductions at the federal level. 'We understand that as we head into fiscal year 2026, there are short-term risks to that projected surplus,' he said, referring to previous projections which calculated a $3.2 billion budget surplus over two years. 'We all know that as President Trump rightfully resets trade imbalances and restores fiscal responsibility in DC, there are short-term disruptions … (that) require us to be responsible and not spend 100% of this forecasted surplus.' The bulk of the cuts, totaling $691 million, will come from a package of 10 one-time capital projects appropriated for colleges and universities. Youngkin said the projects were overwhelmingly in the planning stages and had not yet begun construction. 'These projects are good projects,' he said. 'They should be funded. And we are providing the General Assembly the opportunity in January to pick them back up, and they will be able to use either cash resources or bonding to ensure these projects continue on their current timeline.' Senate majority leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, took issue with how those cuts were communicated. '(Youngkin) gave us zero heads up about what he was doing or why he was doing it,' Surovell said. 'None of this was discussed during session. It's not the way to run a commonwealth, and it's very disappointing and aggravating that we're going to have almost a billion dollars cut out of our budget.' Youngkin previously included an amendment to the budget that would put an additional $300 million beyond the required deposit into the Senate's rainy day fund. That amendment was not accepted by the Democrat-controlled state legislature. The $900 million in cuts won't go into the revenue reserve fund; rather, that portion of the budget surplus is simply unappropriated. Youngkin said other cuts would include things such as a private-public child care partnership and long-term water infrastructure investments. The governor said the former was not yet ready for prime time, and the latter had alternative funding. 'I just encouraged everyone to use existing appropriations in order to fund those things,' he said. 'There's other areas where there is already money existing, and it hasn't been used.' Youngkin said he would approve the other 135 items the legislature returned to him unchanged. Included in the budget would be $25 million for drinking water infrastructure and $12 million for maternal health investments. On the education front, Youngkin said there would be about $223 million to lift the support staff cap, $111 million for English language teachers, $53 million in additional funds for special education and an additional $134 million for teacher bonuses. Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881,
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor unleashes veto storm to drown progressive legislation
Ahead of his Monday night deadline to act on bills from the 2025 General Assembly session, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced his budget amendments at a press conference in Richmond Monday morning. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) In the final year of his tenure, Gov. Glenn Youngkin carried out his duty to sign, veto and amend hundreds of bills handed to him by the Democratic-controlled legislature for the last time Monday, rejecting a proposal to raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15 per hour, a multiple-year attempt to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and several voter registration and election measures. Youngkin also signed into law a bill that classifies fusion as a clean energy source, one that expands maternal health care access and a bill banning the personal use of political campaign funds, the most significant campaign finance reform measure the state has passed in years. Youngkin vetoes minimum wage hike, prescription affordability board bills 'The legislation that I've signed into law and the budget amendments I've put forward this year will go a long way to helping ensure Virginia remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family,' Youngkin stated in a news release announcing his actions. 'And I have vetoed bills that I think will take the commonwealth backward by raising the cost of living, hurting our strong job growth, stifling innovation, undermining our All-American All-of-the-Above Power and Energy Plan or making our communities less safe,' Youngkin added, relaying his thanks to legislators for their work during the General Assembly session. With the action deadline Monday night at 11:59 p.m., much of Youngkin's actions were still trickling onto Virginia's Legislative Information System website well into Tuesday. Though still digesting some of what he'd seen by 11:30 a.m., Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, participated in a virtual press gathering to relay his thoughts. Surovell said during his 16 years as a lawmaker, governors typically call legislative leaders to discuss amendments in the period between when session ends and their action deadline begins. This is done sometimes in lieu of some vetoes, Surovell said, and in other instances, representatives from the governor's administration have been more actively engaged in the committee process during session. But when it comes to the Youngkin administration, Surovell claimed, 'the first time a member finds out they got a problem with the bill is usually when the veto drops, or when the amendment drops.' It's also part of why he thinks Youngkin has a higher veto count than other governors have had. The governor issued a record 201 bills from the 2024 General Assembly session, according to the Virginia Public Access Project,'more legislation than any recent Governor of Virginia has in their full four-year term.' Here are some of the key bills the governor signed, vetoed and amended this year. No more personal use of campaign funds House Bill 2165 by Del. Josh Cole, D-Fredricksburg, and Senate Bill 1002 by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, prohibits the personal use of campaign funds. Youngkin's signature marks a victory for Boysko, who has been a key champion for campaign finance reform over the years. Though lawmakers have tried numerous times to address campaign finance reform, their efforts over the past decade have never borne fruit. A subcommittee established to study the issue never held a meeting in 2022 and campaign finance bills to limit contribution amounts failed in 2023. This year a bill by Del. Mike Jones, D-RIchmond, would have directed a state research agency to study potential gaps in campaign finance enforcement, but it failed in the legislature. Jones plans to try again on that bill, meanwhile Cole's and Boysko's successful bill represents a breakthrough in overall reform on the issue in Virginia. Their bills cleared with overwhelming bipartisan support and Republican co-patrons on the House version. Fusion officially classified as a clean energy source Virginia is expanding its definition of clean energy to include fusion power under a bill approved by the General Assembly that Youngkin signed into law. HB 1779, sponsored by Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, updates state law to classify fusion energy as a form of 'carbon-free' or 'clean' energy. The change means fusion will now be recognized alongside other non-carbon-emitting sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, and nuclear power. Under the legislation, 'clean energy' refers to electricity generated from sources that do not emit carbon dioxide during production. The inclusion of fusion — a technology still in development for commercial use — signals Virginia's intent to stay ahead of emerging energy innovations as the state transitions toward a lower-carbon grid. Special health plan enrollment for pregnancy HB 2083 by Del. Irene Shin, D-Fairfax, was among several signed or amended bills aimed at improving maternal health outcomes. Shin's bill requires the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange to establish a special enrollment period for qualifying pregnant people. A survey the state conducted last year showed long wait times for new enrollees' paperwork to be processed. This contributed to delayed access to care for people to schedule their appointments. Military tuition program update The governor signed a proposal on Monday to address the rising costs of the Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP). The state initiative provides college tuition waivers for spouses and children of permanently disabled military veterans or those killed in action. HB 1694, sponsored by Del. Alex Askew, D-Virginia Beach, will address the rising cost of the VMSDEP by directing the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) to provide a detailed data report on the program to lawmakers. The report will include the number of eligible survivors and dependents who qualify for tuition and mandatory fee waivers as well as an estimate of how many qualified beneficiaries who are currently enrolled at each public institution as of Nov. 1 during the fall semester. According to SCHEV, the program's annual cost increased to $65 million in 2023 from $19 million in 2019. Steeper penalties for unauthorized drone activity The governor agreed to a proposal that stipulates a Class 4 felony charge for people who operate uncrewed aerial vehicles in areas to obtain video or photos without authorization. HB 1726, Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, will also protect the property owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees from criminal prosecution and civil liability should they need to act if an aircraft system enters the property, as long as their action doesn't result in injury to any person. Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who carried the companion bill in the Senate, and Price proposed new measures in response to national security concerns that arose when a Chinese national citizen was discovered illegally operating a drone over ship repair yards in Newport News on January 5, 2024, according to court records obtained by the Virginian-Pilot. The Naval Station Norfolk is the world's largest naval base. Class 4 felony offenses carry a jail sentence of two to 10 years and $100,000 fine. Privacy protection for retired law enforcement officers The governor supported a proposal to protect retired and former law enforcement officers from having their names published publicly. HB 1874, carried by Del. Rozia Henson, D-Woodbridge, amends state law by adding retired or former law-enforcement officers to the definition of 'public official' for the purposes of prohibiting their names and personal information from being published on the internet. Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-Prince William, carried a similar bill in the Senate. In both versions of the bill, the retired or former law-enforcement officer must be in 'good standing' with no pending investigations or disciplinary actions. Retired and former officers can request a court to keep their information private, according to the legislation. The privacy measure will last for four years, provided that such officer was retired or ended their service within four years of filing a petition with a circuit court. Job search help for formerly incarcerated people Formerly incarcerated people can have a little extra help in landing a job after they're released, now that Youngkin signed laws to give them that boost. HB 1759 by Del. Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield, and Senate Bill 877 by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, directs the Department of Corrections and Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to team up on job search assistance. A pilot program already exists, and the proposals from Gardner and Ebbin would codify it into state law. While presenting the bill earlier this year, Gardner said that from September to December 2024, the pilot helped over 1,500 people — making them more likely to become self-sufficient, less likely to reoffend and less reliant on public financial assistance. The bill is among a slate of proposals aimed at helping current and formerly incarcerated people this legislative session, others of which aren't fully law yet as Youngkin is seeking amendments before he signs them. Plastic bag tax bagged The governor rejected a proposal sponsored by Del. Marty Martinez, D-Loudoun, which would have amended the state law directing counties to allocate a percentage of the plastic bag tax collected to towns within the county that have imposed a sales tax. 'Plastic bag taxes fail to achieve their intended goals and burden Virginians with higher prices at the grocery store,' Youngkin said in a statement. 'Redirecting tax revenues to towns may further encourage governments to rely on these taxes, exacerbating the issue.' In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that authorized any locality in Virginia to impose a tax of five cents per bag on disposable plastic bags provided to customers by convenience stores, drug stores, and grocery stores. The local sales tax distribution formula would have determined the town appropriations. Under current law, all revenues can be used for environmental cleanup, providing education programs designed to reduce environmental waste, mitigating pollution and litter, or providing reusable bags to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) benefits. Voter registration and elections proposals blocked Youngkin vetoed a proposal that would have aligned Virginia's primary elections for state and local offices with the presidential primary in election years, rejecting a proposal aimed at simplifying the voting calendar and increasing turnout. HB 1794, sponsored by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, passed both chambers with bipartisan support. The measure would have required that all primaries for offices to be filled in the November general election during presidential years take place on the same day as the presidential primary — typically in early March. The bill also would have allowed candidates running in those years to begin collecting petition signatures before Jan. 1 and adjusted campaign finance reporting deadlines to accommodate the earlier schedule. Supporters argued the measure would modernize and streamline Virginia's election process. But Youngkin said the proposal would create unnecessary confusion and unequal treatment for candidates depending on the timing of their election cycle. 'By creating different filing deadlines for candidates depending on whether their election falls in a presidential or nonpresidential year, this bill increases the risk of missed deadlines, ballot access issues, and campaign finance compliance errors,' the governor said in his veto explanation. 'Candidates with general elections during presidential years would have to collect petitions, file ballot access documents, and file campaign finance reports on a schedule different from candidates with general elections during non-presidential years. The legislation was identical to Senate Bill 1119. HB 2002, sponsored by Del. Amy Laufer, D-Albemarle, sought to ensure that, aside from a written request from the voter, local election officials could only cancel a voter's registration based on information provided by the Virginia Department of Elections or another state agency approved by the State Board of Elections. Supporters of the bill said it was aimed at preventing erroneous or premature removals from the voter rolls, and ensuring that only verified, official sources could be used to make such decisions. But Youngkin said the bill would create unnecessary limitations and impede registrars from doing their jobs effectively. 'Virginia's voter registration system is nationally recognized for its accuracy and security,' Youngkin said in a statement explaining his veto. 'General registrars rely on a range of verified sources, including the Virginia Department of Elections and the Virginia Department of Health, while also using obituaries and family reports to confirm voter deaths. This bill eliminates those effective tools, making it harder to maintain accurate voter rolls and creating unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.' Youngkin further rejected a bill aimed at tightening how the Virginia Department of Elections processes voter registration data, arguing it would reduce the accuracy of voter rolls and weaken the role of local election officials. HB 2276, introduced by Price, would have required that specific identification information be included in any list or record submitted to the Department of Elections for the purpose of maintaining the state's voter registration list. The measure also mandated that the department compare these records to the state's list of registered voters and assign each potential match a 'confidence score.' Only matches scoring at least 80 points would be forwarded to local general registrars for further action. Price's proposal came on the heels of a federal lawsuit against Virginia, alleging that a state program aimed at removing people from the voter rolls, which Youngkin touted in an executive order in August, was implemented too close to the Nov. 5 elections and wrongfully included eligible voters. Supporters of Price's legislation said it would help ensure more accurate and verified matches before voter registrations are canceled, aiming to avoid mistaken removals and promote transparency in list maintenance procedures. Youngkin, however, said the proposal overlooked a more fundamental issue: the reliability of the underlying data itself. In his veto statement, he argued that raising the match threshold to 80 points would reduce the number of voter record matches sent to registrars, ultimately hindering the cancellation of outdated or invalid registrations. 'Raising the matching threshold to 80 points reduces the number of list maintenance data matches provided to general registrars, limiting necessary cancellations and reducing voter roll accuracy,' Youngkin said. The governor also objected to the bill's provision that would centralize all voter data matching within the Department of Elections, rather than allowing local registrars to investigate potential discrepancies. He warned that the change would diminish local control and oversight. 'By centralizing all matching within ELECT, registrars lose the ability to research potential discrepancies, weakening local election oversight,' he said. Collective bargaining SB 917 by Surrovell and HB 2764 by Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, would have expanded on a 2020 law that permits local government employees in Virginia to opt into collective bargaining if their localities allow it. While some jurisdictions — like Alexandria, Loudoun County and the city of Richmond — have adopted bargaining rights, public employees in areas without such ordinances remain without a seat at the table. The proposals from Surovell and Tran were among other also-vetoed bills meant to help workers like raising the minimum wage and paid sick leave. Surovell said it was 'disappointing' to see these vetoes. 'I think there's been a lot of talk amongst conservatives lately about focusing on affordability,' Surovell said. 'That's exactly what we did this session, and the governor basically stuck (up) a finger.' A rental grace period Under current Virginia law, landlords have a five day waiting period after rent is due before they can notify tenants they intend to evict them for not paying rent. SB 812 by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach and HB 1719, also by Price, would have extended that grace period to 14 days. The reasoning for the proposed extension, housing advocates have said, is that tenants who have fallen behind may be more likely to have had a payday by then and be more likely to make up their rental payment. Several housing-related bills this session sparked a clash over local and state roles in housing policy. While this proposal cleared the legislature to make it to Youngkin's desk, it did so because of Democrats' majority in both chambers. Addressing racial bias in appraisals Last summer a Virginia Beach house sale gone awry made national news when it was revealed that a condo's owner backed out of a sale when learning that her buyer was a Black woman. But racial bias also affects sellers in Virginia, a survey conducted in Richmond last year revealed. According to the report, the average home appraises for around $436,000 in majority white neighborhoods, in juxtaposition to $256,000 where people of color are the majority of residents. But some Black-owned homes have never had equitable assessments in the first place due to the nation's history of racist housing policies. In the 1930s, appraisers lined Black-populated neighborhoods nationwide in red and deemed them 'hazardous' areas for home loans. The effects can still be present today, the report shows, because each past appraisal became the basis for future appraisals. Additionally, the report notes human bias as another factor for disparity in home appraisals. This is when appraisers overlook comparable homes with different racial demographics or allow personal prejudice to prevent them from making objective consideration of a home's attributes. HB 1693 by Askew and SB 995 by Sen. Angela Williams Graves, D-Norfolk, would have required applicants for real estate appraisers to complete a minimum of two hours of education on fair housing and appraisal bias. It also would have subjected the course to be annually audited by the Fair Housing Board. In his veto explanation, Youngkin deemed their bills unnecessary because a similar bill, with no required audits, had been enacted in 2022. Employee protections Youngkin rejected a proposal to hold employers accountable for failing to pay their employees. HB 2561, carried by Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, would have made employers liable if they failed to pay the minimum wage or overtime wages due to an employee. While the legislation aims to enhance worker protections, Youngkin wrote in his veto statement that the proposal imposes 'excessive liabilities' and 'compliance burdens' that will negatively harm Virginia's business climate. Youngkin added that with Lopez's bill extending the timeframe for filing wage and misclassification claims, it would allow for collective lawsuits and remove key legal protections for businesses acting in good faith. Additionally, the governor wrote that the bill would move Virginia away from federal Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines, which he says would create 'regulatory hurdles' for current and future businesses in the Commonwealth. 'To maintain Virginia's pro-business environment and continue attracting employers and investment, it is essential to reject policies that create legal uncertainty and impose excessive penalties,' Youngkin wrote. 'This bill would make Virginia one of the most punitive states for wage violations, discouraging business growth and job creation.' Sales tax for school construction A proposal that would have allowed all localities to impose a 1% sales tax for school construction also met its death at Youngkin's veto pen. Youngkin agreed there is a need to to support school construction, but said the proposed plan could result in an annual tax increase of nearly $1.5 billion for Virginians. In response to that need, Youngkin proposed an additional $50 million for school construction grants and loans above the current biennial budget, bringing the total to $610 million, if adopted. The governor said the commonwealth should pursue other tax proposals rather than authorizing all counties and cities to levy an additional local sales and use tax to fund public services. 'The commonwealth should pursue a tax policy that unleashes economic development and prioritizes job and wage growth through innovative reforms,' Youngkin said. 'These reforms must allow hardworking Virginians to keep more of their money, not less; any proposal that increases the cost of living and the cost of business is not a policy we should pursue.' The governor also excluded the proposal in his budget amendments published on Monday after reviewing the amendments passed by the General Assembly. Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, the patron of the bill, reacted to the veto on X, formerly Twitter, stating that 'Less than a week after Trump announced the dismantling of the Department of Education, which will be devastating for (Virginia) school funding, Governor Youngkin just vetoed SB 1307, blocking local communities from even having the choice to invest in school construction and renovation through a local referendum. … This governor is out of touch.' Automatic license plate readers Youngkin has amended a bill governing the use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, extending the data retention period from 21 to 30 days. The change gives law enforcement agencies more time to utilize collected data, while still requiring it to be deleted after that period. HB 2724, sponsored by Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, aims to regulate the use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems in Virginia. The legislation requires the Division of Purchases and Supply within the Department of General Services to approve any ALPR systems used in the state. It also sets strict limits on how these systems can be deployed by law enforcement. Under the bill, ALPR technology can only be used for specific purposes: conducting criminal investigations where there is reasonable suspicion of a violation, investigating cases involving missing or endangered persons (including issuing alerts or addressing human trafficking), and receiving notifications about stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, or individuals with outstanding warrants. The legislation further includes penalties for law enforcement agencies that violate these guidelines. Data centers Youngkin amended HB 1601, sponsored by Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, tweaking how localities handle the approval process for new high-energy use facilities (HEUFs), or data centers. Originally, the bill required applicants to submit a site assessment before rezoning or special use permits could be approved, examining the impact of the facility's sound profile on nearby residential units and schools. Youngkin's amendment now makes this site assessment optional for localities, allowing them to decide whether to require it. Additionally, the amended bill allows localities to examine the potential effects of the facility on other environmental factors, including water resources, agricultural land, parks, historic sites and forests. The bill also includes a provision that exempts expansions of existing facilities that do not exceed 100 megawatts from these site assessment requirements. Youngkin added that the provisions of the bill will not go into effect unless reenacted by the 2026 General Assembly. The bill clarifies that it does not interfere with existing local zoning authority. Mercury editor Samantha Willis contributed to this report. 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25-02-2025
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Virginia governor launches job search resources for newly fired federal workers
MCLEAN, Va. () — There are now state leaders hoping to help newly fired federal workers. In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin is sharing some new resources, including touting tens of thousands of jobs he says are available right now. Confusion rises for federal workers as Elon Musk's deadline for list of accomplishments nears Some workers said they're glad Youngkin is doing something about the problem. Youngkin expressed empathy Monday for those fired. But for many, it's a problem they say should have been avoided in the first place and these resources won't help them get their federal jobs back. 'There are opportunities in Virginia and we want to help you find them to build the next chapter of your careers,' Youngkin said. It's the next chapter that thousands of federal workers didn't ask for as the Trump administration continues to make cuts. 'Our federal workforce is not at fault here. But the reality is, any CEO who steps into a position where there is an organization that has got such deep financial challenges is going to have to make change,' Youngkin said. 'She will be greatly missed': DC leaders remember singer Roberta Flack The new website, Virginia Has Jobs, has resources to connect people with jobs, training and support. Youngkin said there are 250,000 open jobs, with 100,000 of those in Northern Virginia. 'These people aren't looking for a website. They're looking to have their jobs back. They're looking to have money to pay their mortgage and their car payment,' said Senate Majority Leader Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax). Surovell blames Youngkin for the predicament workers are in. 'He's been in denial about what's happening across the river for the last two months since inauguration. And it is to defend this administration instead of standing up for his constituents,' Surovell said. Deputies seize $1.4 million stolen in Loudoun County cryptocurrency scheme, sheriff's office says Fired workers, especially those with specific skill sets, said it won't be easy finding a new job. 'I would like him to tell me where I should get a job that will pay me what I was making, so I can pay my mortgage and stay in the state of Virginia and not have to move back to the Midwest, because I love it here,' said Samantha Leach. There are also resources for fired federal workers available here, including help applying for unemployment and preparing for the job search. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
