Email from Senator Tammy Mulchi How a bill becomes a law How a bill becomes a law Greetings,  I have spent the past few newsletters highlighting why elections have consequences and providing examples of the liberal, progressive job-killing legislation introduced for consideration in the 2026 session. This week, I thought I would walk you through how a bill becomes a law from concept to implementation. The Virginia General Assembly is a part-time citizen legislature, which means members live, work, shop, and worship with constituents and are readily accessible to discuss issues of importance to our shared communities. Virginia legislators are not career politicians in the full-time sense; most have other professions.   Although members of the Virginia General Assembly are classified as part-time legislators, they assume full-time responsibilities and employ staff to support their work outside legislative sessions. Virginia is known as the “cradle of democracy”, as Virginia's General Assembly is derived from the House of Burgesses and is recognized as the oldest continuously operating law-making institution in the New World, with its origins traced to 1619. I will offer one more tidbit of Virginia history: the Virginia Governor's Mansion, the official residence of the governor, is the oldest occupied governor's mansion in the United States. It has served as the home of Virginia governors and their families since 1813. Virginia started it all, and we have much to be proud of and to celebrate, but always more work to do. As I travel throughout the 9th Senate District, I have the privilege of engaging directly with citizens and local leaders daily, listening to their concerns about everything from household budgets and local businesses to education and community well-being. These conversations often spark ideas for new legislation or highlight issues that need attention, reinforcing the importance of staying connected with you—whether by email, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings. Your feedback and perspectives are essential in shaping the laws and policies that affect us all, and I encourage you to continue reaching out about the matters that matter most to you, your family, and our shared community. Sometimes an issue can be addressed without legislation. Sometimes it can be fixed through the regulatory process or by a letter or call to whoever in the state government oversees that issue. However, if it is identified that a bill is needed to fix the matter in the Code of Virginia, my office starts with research. I start by reviewing what Virginia currently does and how another state may have approached resolving the issue. I ask myself, “Is there a way to work smarter, not harder, and replicate the success of a neighboring state?” I reach out to stakeholders and subject-matter experts to obtain data and information. I speak with local elected officials and community leaders to gather their thoughts and input. Each of these actions guides me in identifying the most direct and fiscally conservative path to resolution. Once I have completed the foundational research needed, I submit a drafting request to the Division of Legislative Services (DLS). DLS is the legislative branch agency created statutorily by the General Assembly to provide nonpartisan legal and general research services to members of the General Assembly and its standing committees in the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia. Once I receive the draft bill back from DLS, I will read it and run it by stakeholders to see if any edits are needed and to ensure it accomplishes the goal of solving a problem for citizens. Once that process is complete, the bill is filed with the Clerk of the Senate and becomes public for citizens to read. Once the session begins, on the 2nd Wednesday of January each year, the hard work begins. When a bill is introduced, it goes to a standing committee, where it is reviewed, discussed, and may be amended a bit. If the committee gives it the thumbs-up, it heads to the floor of its home chamber for further debate and a recorded vote. It needs a majority to pass. After that, the bill goes to the other chamber, where it follows a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting. If the second chamber makes any changes, both chambers need to agree on the final version, usually by getting together in a conference committee. Once both chambers have approved identical versions of the bill, they wrap it up as enrolled bills and have the heads of each chamber sign off on it. The bill then heads to the Governor’s desk. The Governor has a constitutionally set timeframe to act on passed legislation and may take one of four actions. The Governor may sign a bill or amend it, which requires it to be sent back to the General Assembly for us to accept or reject those changes, or take no action, and the bill automatically becomes law without the Governor’s signature. The final action a Governor may take is to veto a bill. The legislator may override a Governor’s veto; however, that requires a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Thankfully, the liberal progressive new majority does not have a veto-proof majority. Elections certainly have consequences. My goal in any legislative action is to achieve a net positive outcome for communities and citizens of the Commonwealth. Ensuring safe communities, quality education, access to quality health care, increased economic opportunities, job creation, workforce training, and keeping taxes low are vital to the success of our communities. I remain steadfast in my commitment to addressing the needs of the citizens and localities in the 9th Senate District, while remaining fiscally responsible and a good steward of taxpayer resources. As always, my staff and I are here to assist you with any issues or concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of service. You can reach us at 434.374.5129 or by email at [email protected]   CHART OF THE DAY: Maternal mortality is down 68% since 2021! To be the best place to raise a family means Virginia has to be the best place for healthy moms to give birth to healthy babies. Our Healthy Moms, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities initiative centers on three key pillars: improving data, increasing awareness, and expanding access to high-quality care. We’ve partnered with providers to increase prenatal and postpartum care, doula services, and mobile OBGYN services, and we’ve set new requirements such as standardized protocols—known as “safety bundles”—at hospitals and birth centers to identify obstetric emergencies and ensure expectant moms receive the care they need. There is more work to do, but Virginia has made huge strides to keep moms and babies safer and healthier! America. Made In Virginia. Be Part of History. Join the VA250 Celebration. From its founding ideals to its leading figures, more of what made America happen, happened here in Virginia. Which makes Virginia the ideal place to learn about our nation’s beginnings, no matter what state you call home. From our first steps toward liberty to the innovations shaping tomorrow, Virginia’s story belongs to all of us. This year, VA250 is bringing communities together through local events, exhibits, and volunteer opportunities to celebrate where we’ve been and where we’re going. How will you take part in Virginia’s 250th celebration? Find an Event Here RGGI Tax Rose Again. How, When Does it Return to VA? By: Steve Haner. Originally published in Bacon’s Rebellion The regional carbon tax on electricity generation favored by Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and legislative Democrats rose to a record amount in the December auction, $26.73 per ton of carbon emissions. That is a 20% increase from three months ago and is 4% higher than the previous top price, set last year. The tax amount is up 80% since Virginia left the process just two years ago. The Thomas Jefferson Institute’s prediction that the tax take in Virginia will reach or surpass $500 million per year looks like a safe bet. Had Virginia sold 5 million allowances in the December 3 auction, about what it will be selling once it returns to the program, generation companies would have paid $133 million or so. This, of course, is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. There are four such auctions a year. Governor Ralph Northam (D) took Virginia into RGGI, collecting $828 million over three years. Two years ago, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) was able to repeal the underlying state regulation, but Spanberger (D) expressed the intention to join again during her campaign. The only suspense, really, is how and when Virginia rejoins the other ten states still in the compact. RGGI runs on a three-year contract schedule and restarting as of January 2027 is the easiest path. It is possible, however, that Virginia could join in time to participate in some of the 2026 auctions, the final four in the three-year cycle. One of two things is likely to happen. The Virginia Court of Appeals, which is considering the Youngkin Administration’s appeal of a legal challenge to the repeal, could issue a ruling now and uphold the circuit court’s ruling that the regulation could not be repealed. Or the incoming General Assembly could pass legislation to rejoin as part of a “must pass” emergency bill, such as the annual set of corrections to the current budget. Republicans have sufficient votes in the new Virginia legislature to prevent it being passed on an emergency basis, if they wish to. They do not have the ability to stop a regular bill, which could take effect in time for the September and December 2026 auctions. Launching a new business? Looking to grow or expand your small business? Apply to the 2026 REV UP Pitch Competition and discover cash grant awards, consulting packages, presentation training, and more. Deadline is January 5, 2026! 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