I am incredibly pleased to announce that Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed my HB 2621, the APCo Rate Reduction Act into law. As you have no doubt read in past columns, this legislation amounts to the most significant attempt in years to help decrease your electric bill. Even after passage of this legislation in the 2025 General Assembly Legislative Session, constituents concerned about their electric bill have continued to contact me to inquire of the bill’s status. Now, after much hard work, I can finally report that meaningful rate relief is on the way. Like most legislation, HB 2621 will take effect on July 1, 2025.
This week, the General Assembly will return to Richmond for a reconvened legislative session. The purpose of this session is to consider Governor Youngkin’s amendments and vetoes to legislation he has taken action on from the 2025 regular session. To override a veto, the General Assembly must do so with a two-thirds majority vote. Fortunately – especially as it relates to left-wing legislation seeking to erode our Second Amendment rights – this two-thirds majority does not exist for Democrats, meaning that their attempts to drastically restrict lawful firearm ownership will not be successful this year.
Governor Youngkin has signed 599 bills into law from the 2025 General Assembly legislative session, while amending 159 pieces of legislation and vetoing 157. The latter two categories of legislation are what we have returned to Richmond to discuss for further consideration. In addition, the General Assembly will also be considering 205 amendments and eight item vetoes of the Commonwealth’s budget.
Some of the legislation that the Governor has signed into law includes: a bill that would enable a Treasurer’s office to send checks for unclaimed property under $5,000 without requiring a formal claim (HB 1606), legislation that protects minors from receiving sexually explicit material (HB 2310), a bill that repeals provisions relating to the licensing requirements of a person who buys or sells fruits and vegetables of a producer of such produce in Virginia (HB 1837), legislation to expand the eligibility of business-ready site to 25 acres to receive a site development grant if the site is located in a jurisdiction of 35 square miles or less (SB 1275), a bill to expand and standardize career and technical education standards (HB 1783), and my bill that updates the penalties for those who threaten to shoot at or in a school or other place of assembly (HB 1583).
The governor’s vetoes include legislation that would have made it illegal to purchase or sell a magazine that could accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition (HB 1607), a bill that would hold firearms manufacturers civilly liable if someone uses their firearm illegally (HB 1608), legislation that would create a 5-day waiting period before purchase of a firearm (HB 2631), and a bevy of additional legislation that would erode your 2nd Amendment rights, make energy more expensive, and other left-leaning prerogatives.
I look forward to updating you further upon final completion of our legislative – and budgetary – work for the 2025 Legislative Session. You can expect that the House and Senate Democrats will vocally resist the Governor’s vetoes, but they do not have a large enough majority to override them. We are fortunate to have a Republican governor to stand as a firewall against left-wing overreach.
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
Delegate Jason Ballard Virginia General Assembly
