July was a busy month, from national recognition for consumer protection work to hands-on efforts here in Loudoun and across the Commonwealth. I connected with colleagues at national conferences and kept working on issues that matter to your wallet and your community, from utility rates to e-bikes. Read on for the details.
Around the District
My Concerns on the Dominion-NextEra Merger
The proposed Dominion-NextEra merger would create the nation’s largest regulated electric utility. My concern is whether the deal will result in more affordable, more reliable, and cleaner energy for Virginians. Under current law, the SCC has a strict six-month timeline to evaluate whether the deal would impair or jeopardize electric service at just and reasonable rates. Given the stakes, extending the timeline to allow for a fuller review is sensible. Here are some of my concerns:
Update on our Grid
Virginia’s State Corporation Commission has ruled that data centers, not everyday Virginians, will bear the cost of the transmission lines and infrastructure built specifically to serve their operations. Data center growth is currently driving more than two-thirds of the $7.59 billion Dominion Energy plans to spend on new transmission projects through 2031, and without this decision, those costs could have continued to be passed along to residential ratepayers through rising transmission charges on monthly bills. This ruling ensures that the companies driving this massive growth in energy demand are the ones footing the bill for the infrastructure it requires, rather than the families and small businesses of the Commonwealth. It is exactly the kind of accountability I have been calling for, and I am pleased to see our regulators taking this step to protect Virginians from shouldering costs that were never theirs to bear.
Updates on E-bikes and E-scooters
Outside of fluctuating energy prices, e-bikes and e-scooters are among the most talked-about issues in our community. The largely unregulated growth of these vehicles, many of which can be purchased and ridden by juveniles, is startling, and the concern from parents and neighbors is well-founded.
At the state level, I am considering introducing legislation this session that would give schools the authority to regulate the use of e-bikes and e-scooters on their properties. Some of these devices are genuinely dangerous, and they’re being sold to parents who have no idea how powerful or risky they actually are. Additionally, Delegate Singh’s HB1120 establishes a DMV work group to examine options for improving the safety of these devices, and my staff has been attending those meetings to stay ahead of the conversation. The General Assembly sees this issue clearly, and we’re working hard to make sure both adults and children stay safe.
In Richmond
Being recognized for legislative victories is always a humbling experience, a feeling that is only made better when these pieces of legislation come from constituents. This year, my Click-to-Cancel bill and my bill targeting child predators gained coverage from ABC. I am extremely proud of these bills being recognized, and I hope that future legislative wins for Virginia’s families continue to be highlighted!
Click above to see coverage of the bill targeting child predators
Our Legislation Gets More Press
Freedom Virginia named me a 2026 Affordability Champion. Freedom VA’s work has long spanned the issues that impact working families, and they were a critical partner in developing my “Click-to-Cancel” bill, which stops companies from making it easy to sign up for a subscription and nearly impossible to cancel one. This recognition means a lot, not because of the title, but because it reflects work I care about: protecting consumers and helping Virginians save money.
And, the Piedmont Journal Recorder covered the “Cottage Food” legislation on which I am a Chief Co-Patron. This work started with a conversation I had with a constituent, a small business owner running a home bakery who simply wanted to take more orders. Under the old code, she could only sell in person. No mail orders, no delivery service, even though the food itself wasn’t the issue, the transaction method was. This bill fixes that, expanding Virginia code to let home-prepared foods be sold and delivered by mail or delivery service. It’s a small change on paper, but it’s the kind of thing that can be the difference between a side hustle and a real business for someone. Bills like this are exactly why I ask constituents what’s actually getting in their way! To read this article from the Piedmont Journal Recorder, click here.
Conferences
In the later portion of July, I attended three conferences alongside many of my colleagues: the Southern Legislative Conference, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. Across all three events, I was able to meet legislators from across the nation and attend sessions on some of the most pressing issues here in the Commonwealth. Sessions on AI, energy, and data centers were front and center. These sessions not only taught me more about the issues Virginia faces, but connected me with likeminded legislators who share the same concerns. It was highly informative to attend these conferences, and I am looking forward to using the new knowledge and relationships I have gained to deliver more effective advocacy and public service.
Senator Srinivasan, Delegate Cohen, and I at the Southern Legislative Conference
Attendees of a data center panel at the Southern Legislative Conference
Virginia Is A Top State For Business
Two different state rankings have been released, and both have Virginia as one of the best states for businesses and jobs in the country.
The group Business Facilities ranked Virginia number one in customized workforce training, citing the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program is a cross-agency program that equips young professionals with a range of skills to help bolster Virginia’s growing economy.
Virginia also continues to rise in other rankings. A list by CNBC now has the Commonwealth at number three in the nation for business. This reflects the General Assembly’s commitment to supporting our growing economy in new and innovative ways, and I am happy to see the state I have called home for decades flourishing
Page Program Now Open
The Virginia House of Delegates Page Program is a unique opportunity for young Virginians to get hands-on experience with our Commonwealth’s legislative process. Each year, the Speaker of the House of Delegates appoints 13 and 14 year olds from across Virginia to work in the House Clerk’s Office during the Regular Session of the General Assembly, assisting Delegates and staff with a wide variety of daily duties that keep the House running smoothly. Pages gain experience in civics education, including studying the legislative process and meeting with officials from all branches of state government, along with leadership development in areas like goal setting, time and money management, public speaking, civility and diversity training, and professional etiquette. They also complete a community service project and take part in daily work experiences, from delivering documents throughout the Capitol to working in House committees and on the floor of the House Chamber itself.
If your student is interested in applying, the application can be accessed here, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions can be accessed here.
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. Commending resolutions are formal legislative documents that recognize individuals or organizations for their outstanding achievements or service to the community, while memorial resolutions pay tribute to those who have passed away. If you know of someone or a group 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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