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As we look ahead to the upcoming legislative session, I want to highlight several significant policy changes that may affect our Commonwealth and the 9th Senate District. The new progressive majority is expected to introduce a series of measures that could fundamentally alter Virginia’s landscape. Several important issues are facing the 9th Senate District, particularly those affecting our farmers and the authority of local governments over land use.
While a candidate, Spanberger vowed to oppose legislation that would end Virginia farmers' minimum wage and overtime exemptions. She made this pledge of opposition to our farmers. We must also hold her feet to the fire on opposing legislation that would shift solar project siting authority from local governments.
First, consider the farmers’ minimum wage and overtime exemption. The Virginia Farm Bureau states that ending agricultural exemptions would affect small farms and agriculture overall, as short harvest windows demand flexibility and reliance on migrant workers. As someone who grew up on a tobacco farm, I understand firsthand.
Agribusiness is a large economic driver and job creator in Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the industry has an economic impact of $82.3 billion annually, provides more than 381,800 jobs in the Commonwealth, and has $43.8 billion value-added impact.
Passed in 2021, the Virginia Overtime Wage Act (VOWA) aimed to codify the federal overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). However, after it took effect in July 2021, it was found that the Overtime Wage Act did not fully match federal overtime regulations, including the exclusion of several exemptions and the way overtime was calculated.
VOWA was in effect from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. It greatly altered overtime pay rules, but most of these changes were repealed in 2022. We could see this reintroduced in the next session. We must hold the newly elected Governor accountable to the pledge she made to our farmers and agribusiness community to stand firm in opposition to any effort to eliminate this exemption. We must hold newly elected Lieutenant Governor Hashmi to the same standard as she voted in favor of the bill passed in 2021.
The second issue I want to raise is that the decision-making authority for approving and siting solar projects in our rural areas may be at risk. Legislation that would transfer approval authority from local government to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) has been rejected in the last few sessions of the General Assembly. I expect the new progressive House majority will revive this effort next session. This will be bad for our region and especially for our farmers.
I stand firmly against this. Land use and development project approval must always remain with local authorities. I strongly oppose any legislation that inhibits local zoning authority or approval for developing solar projects.
We must strengthen regulatory requirements to minimize, avoid, or mitigate disturbance to prime farmland or forestland when siting proposed solar facilities. Prioritizing careful site selection and responsible land management ensures that valuable agricultural and forest resources are preserved for future generations. This can only be done at the local level, not at the SCC. One size does not fit all. I will fight against any change to the current process.
I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued engagement and support. It is truly an honor to represent our community in the Senate, and I remain committed to addressing the concerns that matter most to you. Together, we can work toward solutions that benefit our district and the Commonwealth as a whole.
As always, my staff and I are here to assist you with any issues or concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of service. You can reach us at 434.374.5129 or by email at
[email protected]
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