This past week was a busy and meaningful one — from gathering with constituents at a town hall forum right here in Loudoun to returning to Richmond for the Reconvened and Special Sessions of the Virginia General Assembly. It was a week of historic progress for Virginia workers and families, continued advocacy on issues that matter most to our community, and important conversations about the decisions that will shape our Commonwealth’s future. Read on for a full update on what we accomplished and where things stand.
In Richmond
Special Session
The General Assembly convened for a special session on April 23, 2026 to consider the state’s $212 billion budget, and lawmakers are set to return to finish the work in a subsequent special session. At the center of the ongoing negotiations is a dispute over whether to scale back a lucrative tax incentive that has helped fuel Virginia’s rise as the world’s largest data center hub. There is a push to end the data center tax exemption as early as 2027 (it is currently set to expire in 2035), while others argue that Virginia must honor its prior commitments to the industry.
Reconvened Session
The General Assembly also met to consider Governor Spanberger’s amendments and vetoes to legislation from the 2026 session. The Governor proposed amendments to 176 bills and vetoed eight. All of the vetoes were sustained, meaning those bills will not become law. The General Assembly rejected amendments, in whole or in part, to 54 bills, which now return to the Governor, who has 30 days to veto, sign, or allow them to become law without her signature. Among the most significant outcomes of the day was a landmark package of worker protections and maternal health legislation, as follows.
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Virginia is now the first state in the South to create a paid family and medical leave program. The new law creates a portable insurance program, funded by both workers and employers, similar to unemployment insurance, that allows Virginians to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave to address serious health needs for themselves or a family member, including parental leave. The program is set to launch in 2028, giving employers and state agencies time to prepare. As Governor Spanberger noted, this law will also help small businesses compete with larger corporations by enabling them to offer benefits they previously could not.
Prevailing Wage Reform
This legislation ensures workers on public construction projects are paid fair wages by strengthening the state’s prevailing wage program. State agencies will now establish Virginia-specific wage rates aligned with local standards, replacing reliance on the federal system improving accuracy and leveling the playing field for businesses already in compliance.
Wage Theft Enforcement
This legislation establishes clear enforcement authority for wage theft violations, giving employees who may not be able to pursue legal action on their own a pathway to recover lost wages.
Salary History Protections
Lawmakers also passed legislation prohibiting employers from requesting or using a job applicant’s salary history when determining pay — intended to reduce long-standing pay disparities and promote greater transparency in hiring.
The Momnibus
Governor Spanberger signed a package of bipartisan legislation — commonly known as the Momnibus — to improve and expand healthcare coverage for Virginia mothers and families, particularly women who face the highest risks. The package includes bills to expand care for high-risk mothers, increase access to maternal mental healthcare screenings, and enhance the tracking and reporting of unexpected, life-threatening complications during pregnancy.
The newly signed legislation expands Medicaid reimbursements to cover remote monitoring for pregnant women at high risk of complications, and includes a bill to develop a better reporting system to track severe maternal morbidity across Virginia.
Gun Safety
Both chambers declined to accept Governor Spanberger’s suggested changes to the assault weapons ban, sending the original bill language back to her desk for a final decision.
Around the District
Constituent Forum
On April 19, 2026, I joined fellow delegates for a town hall-style forum where we shared legislative updates and took questions directly from constituents. The conversation was robust and wide-ranging, with a particular focus on the impact of data centers on Northern Virginia’s economy and environment — an issue that, as you saw in the Special Session recap above, remains very much at the center of Virginia’s budget negotiations. The feedback and ideas shared by attendees will help inform how we move forward in the coming years. I am grateful to everyone who came out and participated, and I look forward to more opportunities to engage with our community in this way.
How My Office Can Help
Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As the delegate for House District 27, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission, Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters between private businesses.
Whether you require my office’s assistance, want to bring an issue to my attention or invite me to a community event, please reach out here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.
Alongside constituent services, I can submit drafts for commending and memorial resolutions. If you know of a person or organization in the district that deserves special recognition, please submit a request here: resolution request form.
Yours in Service,
Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
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