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Dear friends,
The 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly is underway - now under new management!
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The inauguration of our first female Governor, first Muslim Lieutenant Governor, and first black Attorney General was a historic and awe inspiring event. Lieutenant Governor Hashmi has been a mentor to me for the last two plus years, and witnessing her swearing in filled me with pride as a fellow Muslim American. The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate's daily floor sessions, so I will continue to look to her for guidance, leadership, and friendship.
Governor Spanberger's inaugural address [[link removed]] was eloquent and gracious to her opponent and her predecessor. But it was also a fearless call to action. She spoke about the peaceful transfer of power, the influence of kings, aristocrats and oligarchs, and she read twice the infamous words of Virginia's first governor Patrick Henry: "United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which would destroy that union upon which our existence hangs."
Governor Spanberger's Day One Priorities
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Every inauguration is marked by celebrations, receptions, and the inaugural ball, but this day was also marked by quick action. Governor Spanberger signed ten executive orders [[link removed]] , 9 of which addressed the economic wellbeing of Virginians.
The final order addressed our physical wellbeing, and our ability to live free from fear at a time when ICE is terrorizing our communities. Under former Governor Youngkin's Executive Order 47, Virginia law enforcement collaborated with ICE in this shameful, illegal, and un-American assault on immigrants, those who look like them, and those who support them. With Governor Spanberger's Executive Order 10 [[link removed]] , that collaboration must now end.
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Community Trust is a Must
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While Governor Spanberger's action to repeal EO 47 is an encouraging sign, we need legislative action to protect our people from the aggression we have seen from ICE, not just in Minnesota but also here in Virginia. I spoke to Brad Kutner at VPM [[link removed]] about my plans to do just that with legislation to protect those at or traveling to or from courthouses from arrest or deportation, to forbid law enforcement officers from covering their faces, and to put guardrails into our code around any state or local agency's or employee's cooperation with federal authorities.
Trump Watch
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Last month, President Trump ordered a halt to construction on Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind and four other offshore wind installations. The official explanation offered was that they are a national security threat.
On Friday, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia granted Dominion Energy's request for a preliminary injunction, allowing construction to immediately resume and indicating the judge expects to strike down Trump's order after a full consideration of the merits of the case.
Since he halted this project last month, Trump has committed a number of outrageous acts. He abducted the President of Venezuela without Congressional authorization, claiming it was not an act of war but a law enforcement operation based on accusations of drug smuggling and illegal possession of machine guns.
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He has threatened to take Greenland by force, leading Denmark and other NATO allies to send military reinforcement to deter this pointless act of aggression.
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Americans are struggling with high costs, and Trump's answer is to try to buy a glacier that isn't for sale. Trump's supporters have argued that owning Greenland is strategically necessary - an argument which ignores the fact that we get the strategic benefits of Greenland and respect Greenlanders' freedom to self determination if we simply remain a member of NATO. Trump often decries what he calls the 'Russia Russia Russia hoax," yet he continues to support Russian strategic interests in ways that defy explanation.
In addition to the resources linked below, I hope you will reach out to my office at [email protected] [[email protected]] if you are dealing with challenges related to federal workforce reductions or other Trump administration efforts and are in need of information or assistance.
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Legislative Agenda Update
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Five days into the legislative session, I have introduced 23 bills, with three more in the final stages of drafting and negotiation. I share this because, due to a glitch in the General Assembly's IT infrastructure, while bills filed in the House of Delegates are all public as of this writing, the vast majority of bills filed in the Senate are not.
While this will hopefully be resolved very shortly, I know that many of you are passionate about certain pieces of legislation - and I always prioritize transparency with you. Here are the bills I have introduced so far:
SB 23 [[link removed]] Plea agreements and court orders; prohibited provisions. Sent to Clerk
SB 63 [[link removed]] Board of Education; graduation requirements; advanced diploma; IB diploma requirements; regulations. Sent to Clerk
SB 82 [[link removed]] Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys. Sent to Clerk
SB 83 [[link removed]] Possession of electronic devices in district and circuit courts. Sent to Clerk [[link removed]]
SB 89 [[link removed]] Powers of service districts; control of invasive plant species. Sent to Clerk
SB 141 [[link removed]] Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty. Sent to Clerk [[link removed]]
SB 351 [[link removed]] Certain civil arrests prohibited in courthouses; penalty. Sent to Clerk
SB 352 [[link removed]] Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; civil liability; penalty. Sent to Clerk
SB 354 [[link removed]] Minimum parking requirements prohibited by localities. Sent to Clerk [[link removed]]
SB 489 [[link removed]] Financial institutions and services; virtual currency kiosk operators; license required; penalties. Sent to Clerk
SB 581 [[link removed]] Charter; City of Fairfax; amend 2.2, 3.1 and 5.2; , taxes, elections, powers. Sent to Clerk
SB 582 [[link removed]] Elections; absentee and provisional ballots; process and cure periods. Sent to Clerk
SB 583 [[link removed]] Bus monitoring system. Sent to Clerk
SB 584 [[link removed]] Campaign finance; contribution limits; independent expenditures; disclosure. Sent to Clerk
SB 585 [[link removed]] Virginia Fair Housing Law; Virginia Residential Property Disclosure Act; Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; personalized algorithmic pricing disclosures; prohibitions; civil penalties; civil actions. Sent to Clerk
SB 586 [[link removed]] Health carriers; use of AI; disclosures; appeals; civil penalties. Sent to Clerk
SB 587 [[link removed]] Transportation Network Companies; minimum wage. Sent to Clerk
SB 589 [[link removed]] Conservation of trees during land development process; Planning District 8; minimum tree canopy or cover percentages requirements after development. Sent to Clerk
SB 624 [[link removed]] Assault and battery; definition of Islamophobia; penalty. Sent to Clerk
SB 670 [[link removed]] Autonomous vehicles. Sent to Clerk
SB 687 [[link removed]] Local prohibition or regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers; civil penalty. Sent to Clerk
SB 717 [[link removed]] Increased housing density within a certain radius of major transit hubs. Sent to Clerk
Amending the Constitution of Virginia
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We in the legislature had day one priorities too - the 4 constitutional amendments which passed their first vote last year.
SJ1 - Reproductive Freedom [[link removed]]
SJ2 - Marriage Equality [[link removed]]
SJ3 - Restoration of Voting Rights [[link removed]]
SJ4 - Redistricting [[link removed]]
As your representative, I cast my vote in favor of each of these progressive reforms. Now you, the voters, will decide in a referendum whether they should pass and become part of the foundation of Virginia law.
Our new Governor will be charged with scheduling the referendums, and the need to pass SJ4 in time to impact the 2026 midterm elections means we should learn more about this soon. If you have questions about these measures as the referendum approaches I hope you will reach out to me at [email protected].
Commonwealth Spotlight
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Thanks to everyone who came out for the 2026 Salim Sendoff to hear about my plans for the 2026 session - and to celebrate Cindy's birthday!
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In my first week I met with constituents from the Virginia Bankers Association, the hospitality workers' union Unite Here , the American Legion, and the Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association.
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The Inaugural Parade was a great celebration of Virginia's past and its future.
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I had the honor of shouting out the motion to adjourn the Joint Assembly of the Senate and House so that the celebration could begin!
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Every day I have the opportunity to represent you in the Senate of Virginia is a privilege. I hope you will continue to send me your thoughts on the legislation before us.
As always it is an honor to continue to represent you.
Sincerely,
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Senator Saddam Azlan Salim
Virginia Senate District 37
Democrat for Virginia's Future
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