Governor Glenn Youngkin Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen Declaration provides resources to assist with potential preparedness, response, and recovery operations RICHMOND, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin today declared a State of Emergency in advance of Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen which is expected to have impacts on Virginia beginning Friday, September 22, 2023. This is an unusual storm, which has been difficult to accurately forecast, approaching large population centers with many at-risk communities. Accordingly, the pre-positioning of response assets and supplies will be necessary to assist our local and state partners. The Virginia Emergency Support Team will activate for this incident.  

Governor Youngkin called a Special Session that was held yesterday, Wednesday, September 6th for the General Assembly to vote on the 2023 budget deal. This deal was reached after many months of negotiations between House Appropriations Conferees and Senate Finance and Appropriations Conferees. Both chambers gaveled into Session at 10am on the 6th, and there was little debate as both the House and Senate versions of the budget moved through the process. Ultimately, the bills passed the House 86-Y 4-N and the Senate 38-Y 0-N 1-A. Many of the “No” votes or abstentions centered around their opposition to the process. The Budget will now be communicated to Governor Youngkin and will be before him for signature. The budget amendment that impacts the retail industry is the reinstatement of the Sales Tax Holiday, which lapsed this summer. The holiday will take place the weekend of October 20th this year and will revert back to the traditional weekend for 2024. The exact language of the amendment in Section 4-14 is: 24. That, notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the retail sales and use tax exemption holidays authorized in subdivision 18 of § 58.1-609.1, § 58.1-611.2 and § 58.1-611.3 of the…

   Virginians all around the Commonwealth went to the polls on Tuesday, June 20 to vote in a number of competitive primary races. All 40 seats of the Senate and 100 seats of the House of Delegates are up for election/reelection this year. Since these campaigns are occurring in newly drawn legislative districts, there will be a great deal of turnover and a significant number of new members joining the General Assembly in 2024. 

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