bluevirginia.us/2026/02/vide... Go @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social ! My state Senator!!

I started the morning with @teamfreedomva.bsky.social and my Virginia House Dem colleagues to talk about our affordability agenda, from housing to energy to prescription drug costs and child care! These are meaningful bills that will help working people and Virginia families!

Some good state level housing news in Virginia!

My bill to ban non-competes for health care workers passed out of the Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor 13-0! I'm grateful to the long line of supporters who helped make it happen.

Two of my bills to meaningfully increase affordable housing-- SB 454 (Housing Near Jobs) and SB 346 (Expanded Access to Manufactured Homes--passed out of Committee this morning! They will expand supply and help families, young professionals, and working people! TY to the packed room of supporters!

@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social: "If you're over 40, you can buy a home because you have capital from when housing prices were lower, but if you're under 40, not only can you not afford to buy a home, but you can't even save for a down payment on a home because your rent is so high."

Senate Local Govt reports out @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bill to require localities allow by-right mixed use developments on 75% of land in commercial/business zoned districts (with exceptions and exempting certain sites). House cognate moving along as well.

"Senate Local Govt reports out @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bill to require localities allow by-right mixed use developments on 75% of land in commercial/business zoned districts (with exceptions and exempting certain sites)..." - @vaplan.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/02/mond...

This month we celebrate Black History Month! As Morgan Freeman said, “Black history is American history.” As we celebrate 100 years of Black History Month, let’s remember how vital it is to the fulfillment of the American creed.

Undoing one of Youngkin's worst actions 👏👏👏👏

The Republican Party of Virginia has, at long last, ID'd the likely source of Election Fraud! Themselves Can't make this shit up, folks 🤡 🚗 @vademocrats.bsky.social @bluevirginia.bsky.social @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social richmond.com/news/state-r...

This. They are turning the wealth the American people have created over generations into cash for their own dirty pockets. It’s obscene.

This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here. (clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)

Meanwhile Republicans are advocating for energy that’s more expensive, takes longer to produce, and fluctuates more in cost with the rise and fall of fuel prices.

Affordable energy & lower energy bills comes from maximizing our current grid, building as much solar & battery storage as possible, and making homes energy efficient. That’s what my package of legislation w/ @katrinacallsen.com @philforvirginia.bsky.social @helmerva.bsky.social & Del Herring does.

After a productive week in session, I had to treat myself to one of the many fantastic restaurants western Henrico has to offer. If you know, you know. I love coming home to the 16th District after a long day, and week, in session.

Yesterday, the Virginia Senate voted to pass my legislation to rejoin ERIC. That was a vote for more secure and more accessible elections. And a vote to reject MAGA conspiracies. Democracy works best when elections are secure and accessible. Virginia has led the way in proving it!

It's appalling that VA ever left ERIC (b/c of Youngkin & a bunch of tinfoil hat lunatics); it's just as appalling that 17 VA Senate Rs (apparently all tinfoil hat lunatics as well) voted against @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social's bill to rejoin it bluevirginia.us/2026/01/not-... h/t @vaplan.bsky.social

Yesterday, the Virginia Senate passed my bill to create a more productive conversation & process for proposed solar projects. At a time where we need more energy supply, we should want to build more solar. It’s our cheapest energy source and fastest to produce. 1/

Senate passes @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bill to rejoin the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC), which we should NEVER have left and only did so because of some weird MAGA tinfoil hat conspiracy theory.

“Getting there starts with one thing: saying yes. “We need people who are going to say yes,” VanValkenburg says. “And I’m hopeful we’ll get to yes on this bill.”” www.realtor.com/advice/buy/v...

The right-wing hysteria about Spanberger is really something to behold. She has them totally freaked out, apparently. bluevirginia.us/2026/01/frid... h/t @drewsav.bsky.social @daveweigel.bsky.social

It was a joy to introduce from the Senate floor the first all girls Scouting Troop in the Richmond area this afternoon, Tuckahoe’s Troop 799G!

That’s about 12 constitutional violations per day every day for six months.

Today we took one step closer to rejoining ERIC. That means safer, more secure and more accessible elections. Don’t let people tell you we can’t be more accessible and secure. @vademocrats.bsky.social have been proving that case for almost ten years now. 1/

Time and time again voters are telling politicians that housing is too expensive. We’ve got a great chance to do something about it in Virginia this session. Let’s show voters that @vademocrats.bsky.social get the job done!

Senate General Laws reports out @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bill making *approval* of solar farms zoning exceptions the default for localities, with a host of standardized safeguards, and requiring any exceptions be reported to the SCC.

No snow day for us legislators at the Virginia General Assembly! Stay safe and warm, everyone!

“At times, Minneapolis reminded me of what I saw during the Arab Spring in 2011, a series of street clashes between protesters and police that quickly swelled into a much larger struggle against autocracy,” Robert F. Worth reports.

"What’s happening in [MN] is horrifying. This is not about immigration or fraud...Trump...is turning a city into a militarized zone...This is not about team red or team blue. It’s about team America & the ideas we hold sacred" - VA Sen. @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/01/virg...

What’s happening in Minnesota is horrifying. This is not about immigration or fraud. The Trump Administration is turning a city into a militarized zone, arresting small children, searching homes with no warrants, murdering citizens in the streets and then smearing the victims. 1/

Beyond helping establish DHS itself in 2003, Mr. Mitnick was a senate-confirmed Trump choice for General Counsel for DHS in his first term. I've talked with him a few times, and he's not a man for hyperbole. So bear that in mind when you see him calling out DHS's "lawlessness, fascism, and cruelty."

Every video I’ve seen directly contradicts the DHS narrative. They say he approached the officers armed and ready to “massacre law enforcement.” In reality, he was recording ICE then after they shoved a woman, he got in between them. They then surrounded him and killed him.

The killings will continue until you give us the state voter rolls

Here are some resources to ensure that you can stay safe, warm, and informed during this time. Thread. 1/

You don't need to have leftwing views on immigration to oppose what ICE is doing. You just need to value your own most basic rights www.vox.com/politics/476...

Today was my first day chairing the Senate Rehab & Social Services Committee. Among other things, we passed the marijuana market bill. After five years of work, we should begin the process of setting up a legal, regulated, and most importantly, safe market.

To paraphrase James Carville, “it’s housing supply, stupid.” The cost of housing is crushing working Americans. We must do something about it to make sure Virginia remains a great place to do business and raise a family.

If an emergency arises during the impending winter storm, call 911. County public safety agencies are prepared and ready to respond to emergency calls, even through snow and ice.

I think we started a Revolution in 1776 because of stuff like this. John Adams later in life said about the fight over warrants in the 1770s, “then and there the Child Independence was born.” See: James Otis, writs of assistance, Boston

Quick and easy report out of Senate Privileges and Elections on @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bill to have Virginia rejoin ERIC so that our voter rolls and voter registration can be accurate and accessible.

When you talk about affordability, you must talk about housing. And in Virginia the rent/mortgage is too damn high, burdening working people across the state. This is my 2026 agenda to continue battling the housing crisis and make sure every person can find affordable housing.

Choose to stand united. Choose to serve one another. Choose to act together. As we continue forward, let us be united for Virginia’s future.” A fantastic inauguration speech by Governor @abigailspanberger.com! Worth your time!

Youngkin’s first education actions were culture war EOs and instituting a tip line to tattle on teachers. @abigailspanberger.com's first education actions were a student achievement Exectuive Order and a listening tour. Politics to policy. Conflict to collaboration. A breath of fresh air.

The @henricodems.bsky.social in the General Assembly *are* laser focused on affordability and pocket book issues.

What an incredible inaugural weekend! Congratulations Governor @abigailspanberger.com!

What’s happening in Minnesota is beyond the pale. It goes against our values, our Constitution and just plain common decency. It isn’t right.

VA State Sen. @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social reacts to failed MAGA Gov. Glenn Youngkin saying his biggest regret in four years is "not being able to get a deal done to build an arena in NOVA for the Washington Wizards and Capitals" (aka, throwing tax $ at a billionaire) bluevirginia.us/2026/01/thur...

On day 1 of session @vademocrats.bsky.social are keeping their promise to protect Virginians’ rights! ✔️protecting a woman’s right to choose ✔️taking the gay marriage ban out of the constitution ✔️protecting the right to vote and rights restoration These amendments are going to the voters!

We had a wonderful W. Henrico Session Send-off Monday night! You can read about it here. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who came, and thank you to the citizens of western Henrico for entrusting us with the honor of representing you in the Assembly! We won’t let you down!