RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia lawmakers are in Richmond for the first day of the General Assembly’s 2023 session.
They will consider proposals on issues such as abortion, taxes, education, gun control, marijuana, housing and the state’s minimum wage over the legislative session, which is set for 30 days but will likely last longer.
After a prayer breakfast and two Wednesday morning press conferences, state senators and delegates will convene at noon in their respective chambers in the Virginia State Capitol to officially begin work for the 2023 session.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) will then lay out his “Day Two Agenda for Virginia” in front of the General Assembly when he delivers his State of the Commonwealth address at 4 p.m.
Power in the General Assembly is divided, with Democrats holding a majority in the Virginia Senate and Republicans controlling the House of Delegates. The margins in each chamber will allow either to block proposals put forward by the other, requiring lawmakers to cooperate on the priorities they want to pass into law.
The 30-day session — typically extended to 46 days so legislators can wrap up their work — comes before all 140 seats in the General Assembly are on the ballot later this year.
With these factors in mind, Randolph-Macon College politics professor Richard Meagher told 8News he doesn’t expect to see many major legislative initiatives move forward this year.
“Obviously, important stuff will happen, but I feel like it’s going to be more...
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