Congrats to my friend @shannontaylorva.com for her victory in the CD-01 Democratic Primary! Now let’s go beat Rob Wittman and restore some sanity to this country!
Schuyler VanValkenburg
@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social
Senator representing Virginia's 16th District. Parent of three pretty cool kids, teacher of the Constitution, Democrat, and #Henrico homer.
This afternoon, the Virginia Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Task Force--the result of legislation from @helmerva.bsky.social @ltgovhashmi.bsky.social and me--met for the second time. We're tasked with getting more DERs on our grid, our most affordable energy source, increasing grid resiliency.
A great round table today with Virginia AG Jay Jones on enforcement of vape laws. Too many stores are selling illegal products and selling to kids. Legislation I passed with @adamebbin.bsky.social & @hopeforvirginia.bsky.social is making meaningful progress cracking down on illegal activity. 1/
"Today, the Joint Committee on Election Consolidation finished up its two years of work. After hearing all of the evidence, the committee decided not to move forward with a recommendation to move all elections to even years." - VA Sen. @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/08/mond...
Yesterday, the Joint Committee on Election Consolidation that I chair finished up its two years of work. After hearing all of the evidence, the committee decided not to move forward with a recommendation to move all elections in Virginia to even years. 1/
Last Thursday, the @richmondlaw.bsky.social and Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen law firm co-hosted a ceremony presentation of the Virginia Senate Resolution I carried in memory of Malcolm “Mic” McConnell. Mic was the best of us. 1/3
It was a pleasure to join @shannontaylorva.com yesterday morning to worship with Rev. Dr. Brown and the whole Quioccasin Baptist Church congregation!
I’m not a fan of Dominion, but even less of a merger with an out of state monster that would result in even less accountability. So thank you Sen. VanValkenburg. Now can you get all your fellow D senators and delegates to join you? 🙏🤞🙏
Schuyler VanValkenburg@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social · 3d agoI’m in today’s @richmond.com opinions page. The SCC should reject the proposed Next-Era Dominion merger.
Both myself — and the State Senator from western Henrico County — see where this is going. And I thank him for writing down why. Stop the merger.
Schuyler VanValkenburg@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social · 3d agoI’m in today’s @richmond.com opinions page. The SCC should reject the proposed Next-Era Dominion merger.
I’m in today’s @richmond.com opinions page. The SCC should reject the proposed Next-Era Dominion merger.
A 58-year-old letter carrier collapsed & died on his mail route in triple-digit heat. He's the third DFW letter carrier to die since 2023. Yet House Republicans JUST advanced a bill to block the federal heat rule. Working shouldn't be a death sentence.
Despite high-profile deaths, ‘nothing has changed’ for USPS carriers working in heat
Less than half of Dallas-area postal workers have access to air conditioned vehicles, the USPS said in a statement.
dallasobserver.com
This is so bleak. And explains why Americans are so pessimistic about technology and AI. I’d really rather just talk to my kids! They’re interesting and fun people!
Always a pleasure to speak to students and their parents at the conclusion of Richmond Debate Institute camp at VCU. Phyl and his team do a tremendous job! Kids debated about the moral imperative of space travel, legislative ideas, the pros and cons of a cap and trade system, and more!
Glad to see Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones already at work enforcing the law, carried by me, former Senator Adam Ebbin, and Delegate Patrick Hope to crack down on the bad actor vape shops that are selling drugs in our community or illegally selling products to our children. 1/
AG creates new enforcement unit for vape, liquid nicotine
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is creating a new enforcement unit in his office to aid a state crackdown on illegal sales of liquid nicotine to under-age youth, as well as other, unauthorized pro...
richmond.com
Props to the State Senator from Henrico County for writing it all down. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Schuyler VanValkenburg@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social · 2w agoThread re my take on the NextEra-Dominion merger.
Noncompetes are bad for workers and for markets. Proud to have led the way in Virginia to ban them for low wage workers and the health care industry. We have more to do but we’ve made good headway and banned them for people they hurt the most.
John Holbein@johnholbein1.bsky.social · 2w agoNoncompete clauses reduce workers' earnings. Noncompete clauses also provide no measurable protection against trade-secrets being leaked beyond standard NDAs.
Dominion’s average residential bill increased from $149.92 to a projected $180 — roughly 20% — in the last year. If NextEra takes over, that number will continue climbing. Senator @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social lays out his concerns about the proposal in a @richmond.com guest column, published today.
Why NextEra’s Dominion takeover could mean higher electric bills for Virginians | Guest column
Virginia families are already facing soaring electricity bills, and the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger would make matters worse by shifting control of Virginia’s electric grid to an out-of-state cor...
richmond.com
Thread re my take on the NextEra-Dominion merger.
Schuyler VanValkenburg@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social · 2w agoI wrote about why I oppose the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger and why the SCC should also oppose it. If you want Virginians to pay for data center infrastructure to boost utility profits, support the merger. If you want data centers paying their own way and working for Virginians, oppose it.
I wrote about why I oppose the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger and why the SCC should also oppose it. If you want Virginians to pay for data center infrastructure to boost utility profits, support the merger. If you want data centers paying their own way and working for Virginians, oppose it.
Why NextEra’s Dominion takeover could mean higher electric bills for Virginians | Guest column
Virginia families are already facing soaring electricity bills, and the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger would make matters worse by shifting control of Virginia’s electric grid to an out-of-state cor...
richmond.com
Amen! Excited, in the coming year, to work with Amber and The Balance Project about intentional technology use in the classroom. Tech has a role but, especially in elementary school and especially with AI and social media, we need to be more purposeful.
Virginia now teaches students that screens are addictive. Then it hands them a device. | Guest column
As Virginia acknowledges the addictive potential of screens in schools, a former teacher and parent argues it's time to apply the same evidence-based standards to school-issued devices that the state
richmond.com
"Richmond-area home sales rise as median price reaches $460,000" Source: richmond.com/news/local/b...
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w agoTrump: "It was a word made up by the Democrats -- 'affordability'"
Data centers should pay for their transmission lines. Last week, I sent a letter with other legislators, to the SCC supporting the Spanberger Administration's filing making that case. 1/
Notes from the Square: General Assembly backs Spanberger’s appeal to SCC regarding data center transmission costs
Plus: Hashmi releases a reading list ahead of autumn Southwest Virginia college tour; Griffith applauds federal money for Helene housing recovery, announces $3 million for Head Start programs.
cardinalnews.org
I had a blast this past weekend at the ribbon cutting for Momma Luna's Magic Tattoo Co new location on Horsepen. I got a temporary tattoo and made the first purchase! Amy has this thriving business as a 2nd job! It’s quite the business she and her family have grown. Here’s to success on Horsepen!
The third annual American Muslim Heritage Celebration today was a great success! Great to see so many local communities come together to celebrate their unique cultures. Henrico and Richmond truly represent the concept of pluribus unum--out of many, one!
Love that Brick Road Coffee RVA in the 16th District sells coffee named after western Henrico’s major thoroughfares! I got the Pouncey Tract Road beans. Also their cafe con leche is fantastic! Please support them--it's a great local business!
“It’s incredibly depressing that we live in a world in which the leader of our country throws around lies, just flat out lies about the election processes,” said [VanValkenburg]. I'm calling out the lies. Shame on any Republican politician who enables this MAGA rhetoric.
Virginia lawmakers assert state elections are safe and secure
Here in Virginia lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say voting is safe and secure heading into the midterm elections.
12onyourside.com
Sen. @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social has also been a great ally on my data center legislation, recognizing we can’t meet housing goals if data center developers distort real estate markets nor can our solar transition goals be fulfilled if data centers are consuming more energy than renewables produce.
One thing my House & Senate classmate Sen. @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social didn’t mention but I‘d like to credit him for is working me in good faith to include tree-save provisions in the solar bills. Green energy shouldn‘t come at the expense of green nature and we worked to strike that balance.
Schuyler VanValkenburg@scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social · 3w agoI’m in the RTD @richmond.com with Delegate Charniele Herring, talking about how our solar siting reform legislation is good for Virginia. It produces: ☀️Energy Supply 🔌Grid Reliability 💪Energy independence 👷Job creation 💰Local govt revenue ⚡️Less fluctuation in energy bills Let’s go!