PRESS CONFERENCE

This week, my Republican colleagues and I held a press conference to address the Democrats’ ever-increasing spending plans. As your representative, my priority is to reduce the cost of living for Virginians and ensure that our state government operates responsibly rather than burdening hardworking families with excessive financial demands.

To that end, we introduced legislation that would return over $1.39 billion per year to Virginians. Unfortunately, instead of prioritizing relief for families, the Democrats continue to push for costly

new programs that would add billions in annual spending.

The scale of their proposed expenditures through 2035 is staggering. The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) alone has already contributed to higher monthly expenses and is projected to cost nearly $10 billion over the next decade. In addition, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) would add an estimated $542 million per year, further driving up costs for consumers and businesses. Together, these two programs alone will cost Virginians nearly $16

billion in the coming years.

Beyond energy costs, the Democrats’ proposal for a Paid Family Medical Leave Tax raises significant concerns. This initiative would impose new taxes on working Virginians to cover an annual $1.4 billion price tag, placing yet another financial burden on families and small businesses.

When combined, these three expenditures—VCEA, RGGI, and the Paid Family Medical Leave Tax—would cost Virginians nearly $30 billion over the next ten years. This is simply unacceptable.

That is why I am committed to pushing for policies that provide real financial relief. My colleagues and I have introduced several bills aimed at reducing taxes and putting more money back in the pockets of Virginians, including:

Eliminating Taxes on Tips, providing immediate relief to service industry workers.

Removing the Sunset on the Standard Deduction, maintaining the standard deduction at $8,500 for individuals and $17,000 for joint filers—saving taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually.

Eliminating the Car Tax, which would result in an annual savings of $367 million for Virginia families.

I will continue to fight for the financial well-being of Virginians by advocating for responsible spending and meaningful tax relief. Our citizens deserve a government that prioritizes their needs, not one that continuously reaches deeper into their wallets.

BAD BILLS THAT DEMOCRATS PUSHED THIS WEEK

This week, my colleagues in the Virginia Senate Democratic majority passed several controversial bills that could have significant implications for public safety, the economy, and regulatory frameworks. I stood in firm opposition to these bills.

Cannabis Regulation:

SB970: Establishes a framework for a retail marijuana market in Virginia, with the first licenses issued in 2025 and no sales allowed before May 2026. This bill sets up a system that will drastically expand drug sales in our communities, and without proper regulation, could lead to bad actors selling drugs to our children.

Renewable Energy:

SB1040: Amends requirements for Dominion Energy’s renewable energy portfolio, removing previous capacity restrictions for third-party agreements, and expands the Virginia Clean Economy Act yet again. This reckless expansion adds billions to the burden on taxpayers, forcing unrealistic energy mandates and increasing costs for consumers.

Paid Family and Medical Leave:

SB1122: Implements a state-funded paid family and medical leave insurance program starting in 2028, funded by premiums from both employers and employees. This bill creates a massive new tax burden on working Virginians, forcing them to pay $10.9 billion over the next decade. It is yet another attempt to increase the daily financial strain on families across the Commonwealth.

A Direct Attack on Second Amendment Rights:

Democrats rammed through ten bad gun bills this week, each one aimed at restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens and dismantling the protections of the Second Amendment:

SB880: Expands restrictions on carrying certain semi-automatic firearms in public areas.

SB1134: Mandates locked storage of firearms if minors or prohibited persons are present in the home.

SB886: Defines "trigger activator” and creates new penalties.

SB1182: Allows governing boards to create stricter firearm policies on public institution properties.

SB1181: Prohibits the purchase and possession of certain firearms and ammunition feeding devices.

SB1329: Removes concealed carry exceptions for personal vehicles.

SB848: Bans those under 21 from purchasing certain firearms, with limited exceptions.

SB881: Bans the manufacture and possession of unserialized firearms and parts.

SB891: Imposes a five-day waiting period for firearm purchases.

SB1110: Prohibits weapons in mental health service hospitals.

This is just another example of Virginia Democrats prioritizing criminals over law-abiding citizens, putting politics above the Constitution. I fought against each of these terrible bills, and I will always stand firm in defense of the rights of responsible gun owners.

Voter Registration and Election Integrity:

SB813: Requires a 90-day quiet period for voter registration reviews before elections. This strips the Board of Elections and local registrars of their ability to remove ineligible voters from the rolls within three months of an election—opening the door to voter fraud.

SB814: Forces localities under court order to move from at-large governing body seats to single-member districts. This is a blatant effort to override local control, even in places where voters have consistently chosen to keep at-large representation.

These bills represent a dangerous shift in Virginia’s legislative direction, threatening personal freedoms, economic stability, and local governance. I will continue to fight for common sense policies that protect our families, uphold our constitutional rights, and keep our Commonwealth strong.

As always, I encourage you to share your views, opinions, suggestions, and questions with me as they relate to legislation or state government. You can email my office at

[email protected] or call us at (804)-698-7509. And if you are in Richmond, be sure to visit my office at the General Assembly building. I am in Room 502. With the General Assembly session being shorter this year, my schedule is often unpredictable, but if I am available, I would enjoy the chance to say hello to all my constituents.

I’ll be in touch next week with another update from the General Assembly. Have a wonderful week!