Stafford County leaders will meet with Virginia Delegates and Senators during an annual dinner at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 29, 2023, to discuss the county government's legislative wishlist.

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NTD: “Blue state residents, whose governments have adopted aggressive climate policies, are paying much more for electricity and fuel than their counterparts who live in red states that lack such policies, according to a new report from America’s largest membership organization of state legislators.”

“The report from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), provides a breakdown of energy prices throughout the United States while demonstrating the relationship between big government policies and high energy costs.”

The report comes after Prince William County adopted a sustainability master plan to reduce the effects of climate change by 2025. According to the plan, by 2023, Prince William County will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 50 percent and switch to 100 percent renewable electricity in Prince William County Government operations.

Because of the revenue sharing agreement with Prince William County Public Schools, the actual amount in taxes that would possibly need to be raised to cover these amounts would be north of $960 million by 2030 and over $2 billion by 2050, states Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega.

Virginia is on its way to banning gasoline-powered cars by 2045 after Senate Bill 851, passed in 2020, requires the state to switch to 100 percent renewable energy.

Delegate-elect Ian Lovejoy: “Today the office of Delegate-elect Ian Lovejoy announces the launch of an aggressive constituent services outreach campaign ahead of the 2024 general assembly session. Dubbed “50 Ways in 50 Days” this initiative is described as an “idea-raiser” – designed to solicit feedback from residents of House District 22 regarding legislative priorities, issues facing our district and region, ways our office can engage the public and more.”

“Residents are encouraged to share any ideas they have to improve our community with the program hoping to gather a minimum of 50 good ideas.”

Lovejoy won the November 7 General Election to represent the district, which includes portions of western Prince William County, including Bristow.

The General Election in Virginia on Tuesday, November 7, saw changes in representation for the State Senate.

This was the first election held under newly drawn political districts by the Virginia State Supreme Court in 2021.

Here is the list of winners in Prince William County:

Virginia State Senate — Elections every four years

District 29 (Central Prince William County, Woodbridge, North Stafford)

Winner: Jeremy McPike (D)

McPike has served in the state senate since 2016. He defeated Republican Nikki Rattray Baldwin by 12 points.

District 30 (Manassas, Manassas Park, Gainesville)

Winner Danica Roem (D)

Roem will become the first to serve this newly drawn district. Roem beat Bill Woolf (R) by three and a half points.

District 33 (Lorton, Woodbridge) 

Winner: Jennifer Carrol Foy (D)

Jennifer Carroll Foy will return to the state legislature after serving nearly two full terms. Carroll Foy resigned to make an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2021.

Carroll Foy beat Republican challenger Mike Van Meter by 25 points.

We’ll have more election recap information regarding the House of Delegates and Board of County Supervisors soon.

 

The General Election in Virginia on Tuesday, November 7, saw changes in representation for the State Senate.

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Virginia ABC: “Beginning Saturday, July 1, four laws impacting the operation of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC), its licensees and applicants for ABC licenses will take effect. The Virginia General Assembly passed the following Virginia ABC-related legislation during the 2023 session, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin has since signed them into law.”

“Crossover Product Rules (HB 1979 and SB 809) – Both bills established guidelines for licensees regarding the display of alcoholic beverages near non-alcoholic beverages of the same or similar branding, logo or packaging. The new law was created to address innovative “crossover products” that contain alcohol and may cause consumer confusion or appeal to an underage audience.”

By Madison Hirneisen

(The Center Square) – Virginia lawmakers approved amendments proposed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to a pair of bills establishing regulations on hemp-derived products in the commonwealth, which includes a provision allowing some products containing both THC and CBD that are used therapeutically to remain on store shelves.

The politically-divided General Assembly flocked to Richmond Wednesday to reconvene for a one-day session to consider the governor’s proposed amendments to 78 bills and three vetoes. Some of the governor’s amendments proposed technical changes to measures, while others proposed entire substitute bills.

While several amendments were approved with little debate, lawmakers in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate had lengthy debate over Youngkin’s proposed amendments to HB 2294 and SB 903 – a pair of bills that sought to impose limits on how much THC – a chemical found in the marijuana plant that can be intoxicating to consumers – could be included in an industrial hemp product.

Lawmakers have been wrestling with how to regulate hemp-derived products that contain THC following reports of children consuming hemp-derived products, like Delta-8 edibles, that made them ill.

The original version of the bills that passed the General Assembly limited the amount of THC included in a hemp product to a concentration of 0.3% and two milligrams per package. The bills also established labeling, testing and packaging requirements for hemp-derived products.

The governor’s proposed amendments, which were adopted by the General Assembly Wednesday, maintained labeling and testing requirements and the two milligrams of THC per package limit, but added an exemption to the rules for hemp products that are used for therapeutic purposes containing both THC and CBD. Read More

By Madison Hirneisen

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