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Inauspicious. Dystopian. Ominous.
Such are the terms being used to describe the onset of the 2025 Virginia legislative session. What could go wrong in such a few short days, one might wonder? Turns out—a lot.
The Virginia General Assembly convenes annually on the second Wednesday of January. This year, the date arrived early in the month: January 8. On Monday, January 6, legislators began arriving in Richmond for meetings and settling into lodgings for the forty-six day “short” session. The General Assembly Building (GAB) was abuzz with legislators, staff members, lobbyists, and various stakeholders. Around 4:30 p.m., rumors began swirling and were quickly confirmed: the City of Richmond was under a boil water advisory. Fast forward a few hours, and the problem grew dire. Large swaths of Richmond were entirely devoid of running water. Optimistic predictions of restoration were repeatedly retracted or revised.
By Tuesday morning, the GAB was closed to everyone (including legislators). Without water, there were no fire suppression systems…or flushing toilets. The onset of session was imminent, but the process ground to a halt. Lobbyists, legislators, and various staff members wandered aimlessly around hotel lobbies, partially-operational restaurants, and random office buildings. No one was sure what to expect. Virtual session? Proceed as usual? Go home?
Finally, the determination was made to convene briefly at noon on Wednesday, January 8, with the sole purpose of fulfilling the constitutional duty to pass the procedural resolutions necessary to begin the process. Afterward the legislature would pause until Monday, January 13, at which time potable running water would (hopefully) be restored. Accordingly, at noon, the General Assembly gaveled into session in a water-free Capitol (restroom accommodations pictured at left). Immediately upon conclusion of the session, legislators quickly fled home to their districts, seeking refuge in locales with running water.
The short session is now well behind schedule. The deadline for filing legislation and budget amendments was extended, and Governor Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth address was postponed until Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the House Chamber. To view the speech online, click HERE.
In short, nothing has yet occurred in the legislative process. Next week, however, promises to be a whirlwind. On the calendar are constitutional amendments regarding abortion, same-sex marriage, and restoration of felons’ rights. Just a few light, easy, noncontroversial topics to kick off the session. Stay tuned.
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