Sine Die, the end of the legislative session, has arrived. Weeks of work in Richmond and months of preparation resulted in hundreds of bills that now await action from Governor Youngkin.

I am proud of all of the work we have done to pass such a broad collection of bills, not to mention the amendments to the budget that provide much needed relief and support to Virginians across the Commonwealth.

Click here to see a quick end-of-session message for you all who have been following my newsletter and who have reached out.

As always, my team and I are here to support you. Do not hesitate to reach out to us by using the link below.

President Trump's Assault on Federal Workers Hits Hard in NoVa

Like many of you I am devastated to see the impact Elon Musk and President Trump's federal workforce reductions have already had on our community.

At the state level, Speaker of the House Don Scott launched an  Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, and legislation to enable federal contractors to apply for unemployment was introduced.

Though I am sure more are coming, there are already state resources available to impacted individuals and families. 

ABC 13 Coverage of Speaker Scott's Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions

Both the Virginia Department of Workforce and Development and the Virginia Employment Commission have already posted resources on their websites for laid-off federal employees.  Additionally, open state jobs can always be found on the state job board.

Locally, Fairfax County has created a digital the hub for residents affected by President Trump's decision to gut the federal workforce. The hub compiles resources on current job opportunities, food assistance programs, healthcare services, child care resources, property tax information, pet food assistance, and more.

As we work through this difficult and unnecessary morass, I will try to keep you informed of any new resources that may become available.

It was a slow week for constituent meetings, but Nancy and Judes DaBaere managed to make it down to Richmond before session wrapped up.

Even though I will be back in Fairfax for most of the year, my team would be glad help facilitate a fun experience if you are ever visiting Richmond this year. 

Feel free to reach out at any time and my team will help ensure your visit to our Commonwealth's capital is a meaningful one. 

How a state decides to budget its funds speaks volumes about its values and priorities. Anyone looking at the finalized amended budget the General Assembly crafted this year can see we value the future of our citizens.

At the heart of the budget is a $200-$400 tax rebate for all Virginia taxpayers and a renewed investment in our public school system.

The final budget includes a one-time 1.5% bonus for state and state-supported local employees and a  $1,000 bonus for teachers and other school employees.  Funding for public K-12 education gets an increase of $716.5 million over two years and $55 million in funding to curb tuition increases at higher education institutions. And the support cap is finally lifted.

The Commonwealth Institute (TCI) has compiled top-line numbers from the conference budget and compared them to both the House and Senate's original proposals, as well as the proposal from Governor Youngkin.

You can download and review their analysis here.

TCI is hosting a virtual event next Wednesday, February 26, at 11 AM to review the finalized budget language and provide highlights of legislation that passed (or failed to pass) this session.

The House and Senate both held marathon sessions this week to hammer out differences between our legislation and send as many quality bills to Governor Youngkin as possible. I'm proud that twelve of the fifteen bills I introduced this session are on their way to be considered by the Governor. 

This includes legislation to repay wrongfully convicted Virginians, to improve health screenings for newborns, to strengthen our electric grid, and to curb noise pollution in Northern Virginia.

A complete list of all of my successful legislation (including bill summaries, finalized bill language, and complete vote tallies) can be found here.

Persistence pays off in the General Assembly. After three sessions of trying to get it over the finish line, I am excited that my rural EV infrastructure bill (HB 1791) passed the General Assembly this year and was funded in the budget. 

Over a fifth of all new consumer vehicles sold in the US are now hybrid or battery electric. While the adoption has been more rapid in urban areas, that doesn't mean we can ignore the increased demand for EV charging infrastructure in more rural areas of the Commonwealth, especially as it relates to our important tourism industry.

What's The Problem?

What Does HB 1791 Do?

HB 1791, which passed the Senate this week, creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with costs associated with the installation of EV charging stations.

These charging stations will be located in rural and underserved localities and on or near public land. It will make it easier and less expensive to install chargers in parts of the state eager to attract tourists.

I was able to secure $1.5 million in the budget to help fund these efforts.

Let me know what you think about this legislation by using the link below. 

House and Senate Pages Power Richmond

The General Assembly would not function without the hard work and dedication of our House and Senate Pages. You can't walk through the halls or watch a minute of floor activity without seeing the smiling faces and trademark blue blazers delivering files, directing visitors, and learning about the inner workings of our government.

Pages are students from across the Commonwealth who put their traditional studies on hold to learn civics, leadership, and the value of hard work firsthand in our Capitol.

Mina Liu, of McLean, smiles during the Page Debate

HD 6 resident and previous House Page Mina Liu had the honor and responsibility of serving as Head Page this year, bringing the knowledge she acquired last year to the next generation of Pages.

All of the knowledge our Pages gain throughout session comes together during their last week in Richmond, when we yield the floor to them for the Annual Page Debate.

Pages take our seats and our jobs to perform a mock session, debating, voting, and passing bills just as the real House and Senate do.

Do you know a current 7th or 8th grader who might be interested in this immersive opportunity in state government? If so, click the button below to visit the Page Program website to learn more. 

Invite Rip to Speak at Your Event

Receive My End Of Session Letter

With session behind us, I am continuing my annual tradition of snail-mailing an informative 2025 General Assembly Session Summary letter.

If you would like to receive a copy in your mailbox, use the link below to share your address and sign up. This was a very eventful session, so it will be a two-cup-of-coffee read.

Speaking Out To Ensure Energy Efficient Data Centers

As I've said throughout this session, since data centers require such enormous amounts of electricity and could impact ratepayers' bills and stress our grid, the General Assembly should ensure that data centers operate as efficiently as possible. 

Thank you to Appalachian Voices for highlighting remarks I delivered earlier this session in this video.

Video Gallery

This week was a particularly busy one presenting legislation I hoped to pass before the end of session. Some succeeded, some failed, but none of the work was in vain.

If you would like to listen in, here are videos of my recent bill presentations for your convenience. 

HB 1782 - Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee

HB 2125 - Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee

HB 2537 - Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee

HB 2550 - Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee

Best,

Rip Sullivan

Office of Delegate Rip Sullivan
PO Box 994
McLean, VA 22101
United States

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