Week of 03/08/2026
Dear Virginian,
As the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session enters its final, frantic week, critical last-minute battles have pitted the new administration’s remaining extremist legislative goals against moderate and traditional lawmakers fighting to protect the human and financial rights of Virginia families in every corner of the Commonwealth. However, not everything is doom and gloom this week, as there are some notable successes and victories we’d like to highlight as well!
THE GOOD NEWS
The “Service Tax” Defeat
A major victory we’d like to highlight this week was the effective “death” (via continuation to 2027) of the sweeping expansion of HB900 and HB978. These companion bills sought to impose a first-of-its-kind “Netflix Tax” on digital subscriptions and a “Grooming Tax” on services like pet care and haircuts.
Faced with a wave of public backlash and conservative pressure over the rising cost of living, the House Finance Committee moved to continue these bills to the 2027 session, which will keep millions of dollars in the pockets of Virginia families for at least another year.
In addition to this, SB638, which would have placed a $0.50 fee on all Amazon/retail deliveries (and the 6.2% Uber/Lyft ride tax) was also defeated. Many lawmakers framed this as a “lazy tax” that would have disproportionately harmed seniors and those in rural areas who rely on delivery services.
Stalling the “Ammo Tax”
Radical efforts to punish lawful gun owners through financial levies hit a major roadblock this week. SB763, which would have imposed an 11% tax on all firearm and ammunition sales in the Commonwealth, was defeated and continued to 2027 in the House Finance committee after previously passing the Senate in an embarrassingly narrow party-line vote. Many brave representatives rightly argued that taxing a constitutional right is inherently discriminatory, especially against lower-income Virginians seeking self-defense.
Taking Therapy out of Transportation
HB495 would have authorized local school boards to require full-time school bus drivers to complete an abbreviated mental health awareness training module. This would have effectively expanded the job description of transportation staff to include behavioral surveillance of students, which could be distracting to educational transport staff while on the road.
The Remaining Front: Where the Battle Continues
Natural Rights and Public Safety
The natural rights protected by the Second Amendment have remained in the crosshairs this week. Conservative and moderate lawmakers have spent this session unified against what they describe as a “litany of restrictions on law-abiding citizens.” HB217 and SB749 would ban nearly all types of firearms and magazine capacities in the Commonwealth by this summer. Thankfully many representatives in Richmond continue to argue against these radical violations of both Natural and Constitutional Law.
Energy Independence and the Data Center Dilemma
Virginia’s reputation as the “Data Center Capital of the World” is facing a crossroads. As the state moves toward a big-government mandated green energy transition, conservatives and moderates are raising concerns about grid reliability. Debate intensified this week over SB619, which proposes state oversight of high-energy users. The bill has drawn significant criticism, highlighting the absurdity of energy policies that shutter reliable baseload power while energy demand from the tech sector skyrockets.
Protecting Fact-Based Education and Student Safety
Lawmakers in Richmond are also actively continuing to fight HB836, a bill that would put our Commonwealth’s public education system in jeopardy. The bill would prohibit school employees from disclosing the immigration status of students or their parents to law enforcement and barring federal agents from entering school property without specific, high-threshold judicial warrants. The bill’s requirements could force school personnel into direct conflict with Virginia Code § 18.2-460, and 18 U.S.C. § 1501 which both criminalize obstruction of justice.
As this year’s legislative session approaches its final week, we must rally for a final push!
Here’s how you can help:
Please login to your FORGE account this week to help fight these final few far-left bills! FORGE helps patriots like you make their voices heard. FORGE allows you to track critical bills, draft and write letters to Virginia delegates using state-of-the-art AI technology, and become a greater force for good in the Commonwealth!
You can also visit https://virginiansforfairelections.org/ and share the site with friends and family, to help us get it up the search rankings! This will help our organization combat the push for unfair redistricting in Virginia. Elections should be fair and free for all Virginians, not exclusively favorable for one political faction alone.
Below are key bills that need your attention this week.
Please reach out to your legislators NOW and share your position!
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SUCCESS ALERT: HB900, HB978, SB638, HB495, and SB763
HB900 and HB978 would have imposed a first-of-its-kind “Netflix Tax” on digital subscriptions and a “Grooming Tax” on services like pet care and haircuts. SB638 would have placed a $0.50 fee on all Amazon/retail deliveries and a 6.2% Uber/Lyft ride tax. HB495 would have authorized local school boards to require full-time school bus drivers to complete an abbreviated mental health awareness training module, potentially turning bus drivers into part-time therapists. SB763 would have imposed an 11% tax on all firearm and ammunition sales in the Commonwealth.
Thanks to your efforts, these problematic bills were defeated!
ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE HB217 and SB749
HB217 and SB749 seek to ban the sale, importation, or possession of any assault weapons including assault rifles like the AR-15 and even certain types of handguns used for self-defense. These bills would make it a Class 1 Misdemeanor to own, sell, or import one of these weapons in Virginia. Neither of these bills include a grandfather clause, and also seek to ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE HB836
HB 836 would create sanctuary schools in Virginia by prohibiting school employees from disclosing the immigration status of students or their parents to law enforcement and barring federal agents from entering school property without specific, high-threshold judicial warrants. The bill’s requirements could force school personnel into direct conflict with Virginia Code § 18.2-460, and 18 U.S.C. § 1501 which both criminalize obstruction of justice.
