Affordable Virginia Agenda
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  FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR T. TRAVIS HACKWORTH
 
  Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

It has been a busy week to start this Legislative Session — I will
highlight a few things to keep you up to date on what’s happening in
Richmond. We were delighted to have visitors from the 5th Senate
District, which included members of the Virginia Dental Association,
the Virginia Bankers Association (pictured below-left), and the
Virginia Forestry and Loggers Association (pictured below-right). 
  

AS WE BEGIN THE 2026 SESSION, Senate Republicans remain focused on one
key goal: _MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR VIRGINIA FAMILIES._
     
REPUBLICANS' AFFORDABLE VIRGINIA AGENDA           
We’re advancing a series of COMMON-SENSE proposals that put MORE
MONEY BACK INTO YOUR WALLET and provide practical relief for
hardworking Virginians:

*
REPEAL THE VIRGINIA CLEAN ECONOMY ACT (VCEA) –Saving families more
than $1,000 per year in energy costs
*
NO TAX ON TIPS – Returning an average of $280 per worker
*
NO TAX ON OVERTIME – Saving an average of $130 per worker
*
REPEAL THE CAR TAX – Putting an average of $1,099 back into
Virginians’ pockets
*
REPEAL THE GROCERY TAX – Saving families hundreds of dollars
annually
*
EXTEND THE INCREASED STANDARD DEDUCTION – Saving up to $600 per
family

  
DEMOCRATS' UNAFFORDABLE VIRGINIA AGENDA     
Unfortunately, Democrats are pursuing a very different approach —
one that raises costs and adds new burdens on employers and workers:

*
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15/HOUR – increasing costs for small
businesses
*
MANDATORY PAID SICK LEAVE AND PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAMS  –totaling
over _$2 billion_ in new taxes
*
A PROPOSED $1.4 BILLION INCOME TAX INCREASE –on higher earners
*
NEW OR EXPANDED TAXES – including an additional local sales tax
option, plus proposals for digital and services taxes totaling
billions more
*
REPEALING RIGHT-TO-WORK –which would force workers to pay union dues
and increase the cost of doing business in Virginia

    
DEMOCRATS BLOCK COMMON-SENSE PROTECTIONS   
On Thursday, Senate Republicans offered amendments to STRENGTHEN
PARENTAL RIGHTS, PROTECT VICTIMS, AND UPHOLD RELIGIOUS LIBERTY —
all of which were rejected by Senate Democrats. These included
amendments to:

*
Ensure parents have the right to consent to their minor children
undergoing potentially dangerous medical procedures. _– Senator
Durant_
*
Require victims to be made whole before felons’ voting rights are
restored._– Senator McDougle_
*
Protect members of the clergy from being forced to violate their
religious beliefs. _– Senator Jordan_
*
Guarantee medical care for babies born alive after failed
abortions. _–Senator Jordan_

              
LOOKING AHEAD
Governor Glenn Youngkin passed the torch to Governor-Elect Abigail
Spanberger, who was inaugurated as the 75th Governor of Virginia this
weekend.  Thank you to Governor Youngkin for always working to help
us enhance the lives of Southwest Virginians!  
  
On Monday at 4:00 PM, Governor Spanberger will deliver her first State
of the Commonwealth Address before the General Assembly in the House
of Delegates Chamber.
 
We will continue advancing the AFFORDABLE VIRGINIA AGENDA while
working through key issues like _data center legislation and
monitoring Democrats’ push for a redistricting amendment_, with a
public map expected by January 30.
  
I look forward to keeping you updated as the Session moves forward,
and thank you for staying engaged with our office.

Sincerely,

Senator Travis Hackworth
Virginia State Senator, District 5

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