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Court upholds Northam’s firearms ban for Capitol rally
Jan. 20 gun-rights rally expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters
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 emergency following what
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House committee tackles consumer protections and cybersecurity
House Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation ponders issues including regulating devices for children in schools
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 issues, including managing data in an
‘The end is in sight’: ERA moves closer to ratification in Virginia
Resolutions to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment passed both chambers of the General Assembly.
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
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Northam declares state of emergency ahead of Capitol gun rights protest
Law enforcement analysts have identified credible threats of violence related to the Jan. 20 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
Virginia is the first state to conduct a baseline survey of new Medicaid expansion members.
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
Fiscal year-to-date collections rose 8.3%
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
Dels. Mark Keam and Lee Ware seek to create a “pro-choice” 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; require monopoly electric utilities to cease business
State Democrats unveil 2020 legislative agenda
Slate includes Equal Rights Amendment, raising minimum wage, expanding affordable housing
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
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services names chief deputy
Ellen Montz was promoted after two years with the agency
Ellen Montz was named chief deputy for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) as of Jan. 3, DMAS announced Tuesday. Montz will be second-in-command for the agency, which oversees the state’s Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). She will maintain her role as the agency’s chief health economist and director
Northam proposes Election Day state holiday
It would replace Lee-Jackson Day in honor of Confederate generals
Gov. Ralph Northam announced legislative proposals on Monday to allow early voting during the 45-day period before an election and to make Election Day a state holiday by abolishing the state’s longstanding Lee-Jackson Day, which honors the birthdays of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Virginia currently requires voters who wish to