From our House Delegate Lee Ware:

Dear friends,

Well, Session is all but over, though we have to come back in mid-April because the majority party could not reach agreement between widely differing budgets from the House and Senate, respectively.  However, bills that will have enormous impact on businesses generally, small businesses specifically, and upon county government and therefore local taxpayers, have passed both chambers and are expected to be signed into law, taking effect July 1, by Governor Spanberger.  These include a paid leave mandate for businesses that has a price-tag that no doubt will be passed down to consumers/citizens of $368 Million in 2028 and rising to $1.5 Billion in 2029 and thereafter.  Of course leave is a nice benefit to have, but the costs may well prove staggering.  For those interested in the bedrock numbers, here is the link to the Fiscal Impact Statement of the paid leave bill.

Also affecting businesses will be a mandated increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour effective in 2028, increasing by steps meantime.  Again, on the surface this is a positive proposal, but numerous studies show that, especially small businesses in rural areas, hikes in the minimum wage invariably lead to lay-offs.

The legislature has also passed a Collective Bargaining bill, the costs of which are estimated to be $250 million to Chesterfield alone.  (Like you, I hope that staggering figure proves not to be true.)  One northern Virginia county has estimated its annual cost to be $400 million per year, and these costs must of course be borne by local taxpayers generally, local property owners, specifically.

And, of course, an array of bills that will adversely affect gun-owners passed with wide margins.   And this is not to begin to assess the meaning of what our social and political lives could become were the abortion-on-demand amendment to the Constitution of Virginia to pass, or the mischief regarding redistricting of our Congressional boundaries.

There will be much more to report as we conclude the budget next month, but I want you to have an understanding of what may be about to become law because we Republicans face a 64-36 Democrat majority in the House and a 21-19 Democrat majority in the Senate, and a Democrat in the Executive Mansion.

The best summation of the top-ten bills that have passed General Assembly is available at The Virginia Mercury at this link: The 10 most important things that happened in Virginia’s 2026 legislative session • Virginia Mercury

Also, Cardinal News currently offers a brief overview and tomorrow—Tuesday the 17th—plans to publish an in-depth report on the 2026 Assembly.  Here is that link:  Cardinal News | Virginia news, politics, weather and sports