Deaf and hard-of-hearing Virginians shared frustrations with movie theater accessibility while discussing House Bill 602, legislation that would require open-captioned screenings at theaters across the state.
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Politics
House Bill 900, a far-reaching proposal to overhaul Virginia’s sales tax system and transportation funding, was introduced this month and is now pending in the House Committee on Finance.
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“Control over drawing congressional district lines shifting temporarily back to the Virginia General Assembly is in a proposal from a Democratic state lawmaker,” The Center Square reported. “House Bill 1384, carried by Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, would set April 21 as the date for a statewide referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment tied to congressional redistricting.”
The proposal would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts once before the 2030 census, even though current maps were drawn by the Virginia Supreme Court after the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission failed to reach an agreement following delays in the 2020 census. If approved by voters, the change would be temporary, with the commission resuming its role after the next census.
“Most of Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation is making the case for Virginia to be one of the early primary states in the 2028 presidential race,” Virginia Scope reported. “According to the New York Times, the Democratic National Committee … has said that one state from each of four regions will hold nominating contests in the early window before Super Tuesday.”
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“Voters in two Virginia House of Delegates districts elected Democratic candidates Tuesday in special elections prompted by lawmakers leaving the General Assembly to join Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration,” The Center Square reported. “In House District 11, voters elected Gretchen Bulova, who won 68.8% of the vote, or 5,599 ballots cast, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.”
“Voters also decided a separate special election in House District 23, [Woodbridge and North Stafford,] where Democrat Margaret Angela Franklin won with 77.2% of the vote, or 2,773 ballots, according to unofficial election results,” The Center Square reported.
Voters in parts of Prince William and Stafford counties will head to the polls Tuesday, January 13, to decide who will represent them in the Virginia House of Delegates’ 23rd District in a special election.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in both counties. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.
“I recognize the complexity of our current challenges and threats posed by the future demands, but the answer is not to sit so our problems only get worse,” Virginia Mercury reported, quoting Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger during remarks at the state Capitol on Thursday morning. “The answer is to work together, be smart, and make targeted investments that lower costs for Virginians.”
Spanberger said she plans to work with lawmakers to make utility bills more affordable as electricity costs continue to rise across Virginia. Her proposals include expanding battery storage capacity, improving energy efficiency, and reducing overall power use to limit the need for costly new transmission infrastructure.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented his final proposed biennial budget to Virginia lawmakers during a joint meeting of House and Senate budget committees, pointing to strong revenue growth and what he described as room to fund core services while continuing tax relief.
The proposal includes $730 million in tax relief without new or increased taxes, increased funding for Medicaid and public education, and nearly $2 billion for capital projects. Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly, and Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger will ultimately sign the budget lawmakers adopt before it takes effect July 1.
Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin has secured the Democratic nomination for the 23rd District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, following an unassembled caucus held Tuesday by Democratic committees in Prince William and Stafford counties.
According to results released by the Prince William County Democratic Committee and the Stafford Democratic Committee, Franklin received 225 votes out of 334 ballots cast, or 67%, defeating Muhammed “Sef” Casim, who received 109 votes.
The Prince William County Democratic Committee and the Stafford Democratic Committee will hold an unassembled caucus on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to select the Democratic nominee for the 23rd District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Voting will take place from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations: the Dumfries Community Center, 17757 Main St. in Prince William County, and Porter Branch Library, Room 3, 2001 Parkway Blvd. in Stafford County.