In a rare move, following Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency, the Virginia House of Delegates Privileges and Elections Committee has scheduled a surprise meeting to review three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
The meeting, set for 11 a.m. tomorrow, November 13, 2024, will take place in House Committee Room C—206. It will catch the public’s attention ahead of the General Assembly’s regular session in January 2025.
The proposed amendments aim to codify rights around convicted felons voting, abortion, and gay marriage. Notable committee members include bipartisan voices such as Paul Milde (R-Stafford), Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg), Rozia Henson (D-Woodbridge), and Michelle Maldonado (D-Manassas).
Proposed Amendments on the Agenda:
Voting Rights
One proposed amendment, co-patroned by Prince William and Stafford County Senator Jeremy McPike (D), seeks to expand and clarify voting rights in Virginia. Under this amendment, individuals who have completed incarceration for felony convictions would automatically regain their voting rights, eliminating the current requirement for rights restoration by the governor.
Additionally, this proposal clarifies that mental incompetency can only disqualify an individual from voting if a court has determined the person cannot understand the act of voting. The amendment also includes provisions to allow advanced registration for young citizens nearing voting age, helping to ease their entry into the electoral process.
Abortion
In response to ongoing debates around abortion, the second proposed amendment would establish a constitutional right to abortion. This amendment, also co-patroned by McPike, states that individuals have an intrinsic right to make decisions about all matters related to pregnancy without government interference unless justified by a compelling state interest, such as protecting health per accepted medical standards.
The amendment also protects individuals from prosecution or penalties for seeking an abortion.
Gay Marriage
If adopted, the third amendment, co-patroned by Cole, would enshrine gay marriage in Virginia’s Constitution. It removes the current language defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, instead recognizing marriage as a fundamental right.
The amendment prohibits discrimination in marriage licensing based on sex, gender, or race, ensuring equal treatment under state law for all marriages. Religious organizations and clergy would still retain the right to refuse to perform marriages that conflict with their beliefs. This amendment seeks to solidify Virginia’s commitment to marriage equality, further supporting recent shifts in national and state attitudes.
As the General Assembly prepares to meet in full session in January, the Privileges and Elections Committee’s preliminary discussions on these amendments could set the tone for Virginia’s legislative agenda in 2025.
Citizens interested in speaking or submitting comments to tomorrow’s committee meeting may do so online here.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has lifted the harmful algae bloom (HAB) advisory for Lake Anna due to the end of the recreational season. HABs have affected various branches of Lake Anna since June, with advisories expanded in July to include additional areas. Recent samples from mid-October showed acceptable bacteria levels, meeting the criteria to lift the advisory, despite earlier September samples showing unsafe levels.
The Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, which includes VDH and other state agencies, has suspended response sampling for the season. Although HABs may persist in some areas, the public is advised to avoid discolored or scummy water as it could contain toxins. Depending on weather conditions, the Task Force plans to resume monitoring in May 2025.
Press release: Effective immediately, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is lifting the harmful algae bloom (HAB) advisory for Lake Anna due to the end of the recreational season. The Upper North Anna Branches has experienced a HAB since June. In July, the advisory was extended to include the Middle North Anna Branch and the Upper and Middle Pamunkey Branches and Terry’s Run.
Results of samples collected September 18 and October 15 for Upper and Middle Pamunkey Branch indicated potentially toxic cyanobacteria were at acceptable levels allowing the advisory to be lifted.To lift advisories, VDH needs two acceptable samples collected at least 10 days apart. While the October 15 sample results from the Upper and Middle Pamunkey branches and Terry’s Run were at acceptable levels, the September 18 sample results were at unsafe levels of cyanobacteria. No additional sampling is planned.
The Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force suspends response sampling and any active HAB advisories at the end of October each year when the recreational (swimming) season concludes and temperatures begin cooling in natural waters.
Algae blooms, which are still present in November in areas of a waterbody, may persist into late fall and possibly winter months. The public should avoid discolored water or scums that are green or bluish-green because they are more likely to contain toxins.
The Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, which includes the VDH, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Old Dominion University Phytoplankton Laboratory, will resume response efforts in May 2025, weather permitting.For more information visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com.
Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey will speak at the Virginia Association of Counties annual conference on November 10 through 12.
The organization that supports county officials and advocates for the interests of local counties is holding its 90th annual conference. This year’s will be held at the Omni Homestead Resort in Bath County. The organization aims to discuss topics across Virginia’s various regions, such as education, health and human resources, agriculture, and more.
Bailey, representing the Dumfries area in the Potomac Magisterial District, will moderate a discussion regarding the multimodal transportation infrastructure throughout Virginia. Victory Gary, also a regional director for Prince William, will moderate a discourse about public health and ways to maintain and improve the safety of Virginia’s communities.
“No, it’s not going to be ready by the end of the year,” confirmed Commissioner Charles Ziegler, who assumed his role in January. Ziegler cited pandemic-related labor shortages, ADA compliance issues, and ongoing quality control efforts as factors contributing to the revised timeline.
A History of Delays
The Puller Veterans Care Center has encountered numerous hurdles since its inception. The project began in 2010 when VDVS first applied for federal funding to establish a new care center in Northern Virginia. After state funds were allocated in 2016, the Vint Hill site in Fauquier County was selected for its favorable economic support from local officials.
Construction formally began with a groundbreaking in 2017. However, as FauquierNow.com first reported, stringent federal design requirements slowed progress, prompting a redesign in 2018. The new plan reduced the facility from 10 to eight buildings, accommodating 128 residents, and included additional amenities such as a chapel, activity rooms, and secure courtyards. In 2019, a $34 million federal grant, matched by state funding, brought the project’s budget to $68 million.
Unexpected issues, including non-compliant door frames, were discovered as recently as 2022, setting back the timeline further. Earlier this year, VDVS projected the center would open in late 2024; however, this target has since shifted to early 2025.
Ziegler emphasized that the Virginia Department of Veterans Services holds the contractor accountable for all delays and rework, assuring the public that taxpayers will not be impacted by additional costs. “We have measures in place to ensure the contractor fulfills the contract, and any overpayments will be addressed through the proper channels,” he said.
Steven J. Combs, VDVS Chief Deputy Commissioner, told FauquierNow.com that construction issues were identified and addressed promptly to ensure full ADA compliance. The next steps will involve passing final inspections and securing a certificate of occupancy, a process expected to take three to four months.
The delay has also impacted hiring, with only 13 of the planned 200 staff positions currently filled. Combs explained that hiring will resume three to four months before the facility opens, with approximately 60 staff members expected to be onboarded by the time the first residents move in.
The Puller Veterans Care Center will feature 128 individual rooms arranged into 16-room “households.” Staffing levels will increase gradually with resident admissions, aiming to reach a 96% occupancy rate within 16-18 months.
These upgrades aim to improve facilities and enhance the guest experience, though park officials urge visitors to check specific park web pages for the most up-to-date information on closures and project timelines.
“These renovations are key to the longevity of our parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker. “It takes time to upgrade the facilities and make each location more enjoyable for all guests. We look forward to sharing the upgraded cabins and campgrounds when the projects are completed.”
Closures at Westmoreland State Park
Westmoreland State Park, located closest to the Potomac Local region, will be significantly affected. Starting November 1, 2024, all cabins and camping cabins will be closed for renovations, with the closures expected to last through October 2026. The park itself will remain open, and day-use activities will continue as usual, but overnight stays in cabins will be unavailable during the renovation period.
Full List of Affected Parks and Dates
- First Landing State Park: All cabins closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through October 2026.
- Westmoreland State Park: All cabins and camping cabins closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through October 2026.
- Claytor Lake State Park: Campgrounds B and C closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through the 2025 season.
- Fairy Stone State Park: The main campground closed from Dec. 2024 through Feb. 28, 2026. Equestrian campground unaffected, but amenities limited.
- Grayson Highlands State Park: Hickory Ridge Campground, including campsites, yurts, and bunkhouse, closed from Nov. 2024 through April 2026. Chestnut Hollow Equestrian Campground remains open for the 2025 season.
- Bear Creek Lake State Park: Black Oak and Chestnut Campgrounds closed from Oct. 7, 2024, through May 2026. Acorn Camping Loop remains open through Dec. 1, 2024, for tents and small campers under 20 feet.
- Douthat State Park: Douthat Lodge area closed to vehicles until further notice; pedestrian access via Guest Lodge Trail remains.
Despite these closures, daily park operations will continue without interruption, allowing visitors to enjoy trails, picnic areas, and other park features.
For more details and to stay informed about renovation updates, visit the Virginia State Parks website or the individual park pages.
From The Center Square:
Republican leaders are praising Wednesday’s 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow Virginia to keep “noncitizens” off the voter rolls.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who led the appeal in the highest court, calls the ruling a “win for election integrity and the rule of law.” Although pleased with the outcome, he expressed concern with the Biden-Harris administration’s attempt to “execute” his lawsuit.
Republicans may be eclipsing Democrats in early in-person voting this year in Virginia, though Democrats appear to be outperforming Republicans in submitting mail-in ballots, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project.
Just two weeks out from the presidential election, Republicans are likely to have cast 46.5% of early in-person ballots, while Democrats likely account for 45.5%.
Our survey series ends with our eighth and final question to our candidates. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.
Early voting began Sept. 20. and ends November 2. Election Day is Nov. 5.
Over the past few weeks, we have offered a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area. Candidates have answered questions about the economy, education, veterans, borders, data centers, and more.
Each week, candidates were emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.
We asked our candidates the following question:
With Winsome Sears and Abigail Spanberger leading the 2025 gubernatorial race, reproductive rights are expected to remain a central issue. What is your position on the current reproductive healthcare laws, and how do you plan to address concerns about access to services on one side and the need for restrictions on the other?
Kaine responded:
As a result of draconian abortion bans put into place following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, women like Amber Thurman have died because they haven’t been able to get the care they need. Virginia is the last state in the South without an extreme abortion ban, and I won’t stop fighting against efforts to implement a national abortion ban so women can make their own health care decisions without interference from out-of-touch politicians. After the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, I introduced the bipartisan Reproductive Freedom for All Act, which would enact the core holdings of Supreme Court cases, including Roe v. Wade, which established and affirmed the rights to abortion and contraception. My bill is the only bipartisan proposal currently before Congress that would codify Roe v. Wade as a national protection of reproductive freedom.
Cao responded:
As a United States Senator, I will vote against any national abortion ban. I believe this issue was correctly sent back to the states which is a contrast from my opponent who wants to federalize this and take it out of the hands of voters in Virginia and put it in the hands of a Senator in California and a Congressman in Idaho. He wants to do this in order to push the most extreme agenda of unlimited abortion up to the moment of birth. This is why he voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.
My family benefitted from fertility treatments so I would support making insurance companies pay for IVF and other fertility procedures. One of our five children was adopted so I would like to streamline the adoption process to help American families grow.
Anderson responded:
Unfortunately, this is something my opponent has been lying to voters about for weeks. I look at this issue as one we should approach with compassion and common sense rather than division and lies. To be very clear, I will not and do not support a national abortion ban. I’m a strong supporter of IVF and of over the counter contraceptive access. The Dobbs decision put this discussion back in the hands of the states and Virginia has spoken on this. I do not want to federalize this issue.
Vindman responded:
In 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned over 50 years of precedent in the dangerous Dobbs decision, they took away a Constitutional right held by women for generations. I don’t want my 14-year-old daughter to grow up in a world in which she has fewer rights than her mother or grandmother before her. That is unconscionable. My position on this is simple: an issue as personal as access to abortion care should be a decision made between a woman and her doctor, a politician shouldn’t be in the room. In office, I will codify Roe to make it the law of the land. My opponent unfortunately has dodged this question.
Derrick Anderson wants to let politicians dictate to women if they are allowed to access critical reproductive care. He has committed to being a “pro-life” member of Congress if elected. He actively campaigned for a candidate who disgustingly claimed that women can’t get pregnant from being raped, and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to receive an abortion if they requested one. And he is bankrolled by MAGA extremists who have called for a national abortion ban without exceptions like in Project 2025. Simply put: Derrick is a danger to women, and cannot be trusted to protect our families in Congress.
Derrick has claimed that “this should be an issue left to the states.” Let me be clear: this means that Derrick supports state legislatures and governors being able to ban abortion without exception. Including for victims of rape or incest and even when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. This is not a hypothetical future, it’s a reality women face every day. After the Dobbs decision, a 10-year-old rape victim was forced to flee her state because Ohio had banned abortion. Amber Thurman, a young mother in Georgia who had to travel hundreds of miles to receive an abortion, died from sepsis because she was denied the care she desperately needed. Right now, because of state politicians, victims are being denied care, and women are dying. So when Derrick says “leave it up to the states” don’t let his canned line distract you from the reality of what that really means.
It’s obvious that Derrick knows that his extreme position is unpopular, and that’s why he has done everything he can to dodge and distract from his true beliefs. At a recent candidate forum, Derrick was asked simply “do you support a woman’s right to choose, yes or no?” he repeatedly refused to answer. Derrick even went so far as to stage a photo-op with a “fake wife and daughters” in an attempt to soften his image as a bachelor who believes that women should be denied the ability to make their own healthcare decisions. It’s clear that he will do whatever it takes to hide his true position from voters because he’s too extreme for Virginia.
In this election, the voters of this district will decide the future of abortion rights and women’s healthcare access in Virginia and across the country. As a member of Congress, I will always vote to empower women to make their own choices. It is clear that Derrick won’t.
We continue our survey series with our seventh question to our candidates. The series will end next week with our eighth and final question.
To help voters in Virginia’s 7th District and statewide make an informed decision, we have offered a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area. Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.
Early voting began Sept. 20. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.
We asked our candidates the following question:
With inflation and the cost of living still being major concerns for voters, what are your specific plans to address economic inequality and provide relief to middle-class families?
Kaine responded:
When the global economy was hit hard after Covid disrupted well-established supply chains, the U.S. recovered better than any advanced economy, but there’s more to do. I proudly cast a deciding vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which slashed prescription drug costs by capping insulin prices at $35 per month, enabling Medicare to negotiate lower prices, and capping out of pocket costs. Inflation in the U.S. has been consistently falling since then as a result. Passing strong domestic manufacturing and infrastructure bills is also creating good jobs shoring up supply chains, thus reducing prices. America is also accelerating domestic production of clean, cheap renewable power because of the Inflation Reduction Act. I will keep working to lower costs for families. We’ve increased federal support to lower child care costs and I have a bipartisan bill to supercharge existing tax credits and expand child care. Lastly, we must bring back the expanded Child Tax Credit and make it permanent. When we did this, it benefitted 1.7 million Virginia children and cut child poverty to the lowest rate ever.”
Cao responded:
Everything that’s going wrong in our country right now stems from our wide-open southern border, and Virginians across the Commonwealth know it. Housing costs are at an all-time high because we have tens of millions of people here that were not here just a few years ago for which we need to provide housing. To make matters worse, the Biden-Harris administration is spending a billion dollars a day on illegal immigrants, driving up the cost of living for everyone else. When I am elected to the U.S Senate, my first priority will be to secure our border and stop the U.S. from spending taxpayer dollars on illegal immigrants. By doing so, we will lower the cost of living for everyone and provide relief for Americans who have been hurt by Bidenomics, sky high housing costs, and increased costs for goods and services.
Cao also responded with a quote from Tuesday’s debate at Norfolk State University: Â
Right now we need to be energy independent. That is the crux of everything. If it costs more for a farmer to farm their land, it’s gonna cost more for a trucker to bring it there. What they’ve made us dependent on oil from countries that hate us like Iran and Venezuela. These countries hate us in the Middle East. We need to be energy independent in this country. That means unleashing all the energy we can get to bring forth American power. I heard him say at a forum a couple weeks ago that solar and wind are more efficient than nuclear power. Can you imagine one of our aircraft carriers on wind power? Do you want to put sails on there? I’m a warrior by trade but also I’m an engineer and a physicist. I’m telling you right now that’s wrong. Nuclear power is the most clean and efficient form of energy out there and we need to exploit more of that in Virginia and we need to be energy independent and stop being dependent on other countries.
Anderson responded:
We need to put country over party to balance the budget and lower costs. Congress absolutely should not get paid if the budget isn’t balanced. The amount of spending in recent years has really hurt the middle and working class.My opponent is sadly on the other side of this issue — he believes in the failed policies of the past that led to higher costs and more inflation.Also, our small businesses are a key part of economic growth. I grew up in a Spotsylvania small business family — I washed dishes and mopped floors at my mom’s restaurants — and I’ll always fight for our small businesses and their employees. I see the impacts of high costs on my home district every day and offer a clear contrast from my opponent on this issue.
Vindman responded:
When my wife and I head to the store to pick up groceries or fill up our minivan on the way to pick up our daughter from school, we get the same sticker shock that I know everyone feels.
Costs are still too high, and we have to do better. In Congress, I will work across the aisle to lower the cost of everyday goods, cut excessive regulations so we can build more housing and make it affordable to buy or rent, and work to bring high-paying jobs to our region so that working families have the resources to thrive.
The COVID pandemic showed us all that vulnerabilities in our supply chain can have major downstream effects. We must strengthen our supply chain by investing in American manufacturing so that in case we face another global pandemic, we are not at the mercy of foreign countries.
Supply chain constraints are only one of the causes of the cost of everyday goods becoming unaffordable. Over the last few years, as families have been hurting, these major retailers are seeing record profits. If elected I will take on these price-gouging monopolies, and break up companies that are stifling innovation and hurting consumers.
To lower the cost of housing, I will work with local, regional, and state partners to cut burdensome regulations that make it too expensive to build new housing. The 7th district is an amazing place to live and raise a family, and an appropriate housing supply must be available to meet the high demand for housing here.
The past few years have laid bare what many of us have already known: for too long our economy has been working for those at the top while leaving the rest of us behind. We must invest in our middle and working class families. In office I will work with leaders in industry, and labor, to bring high-paying jobs to our region. I will secure federal funding to bring more manufacturing to Virginia and make sure our schools have the resources they need.
