Delegate Austin Reports From Richmond (Week 1)
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To the Constituents of the 37th House District,
The first full week of the 2026 General Assembly has concluded, and the impact of Virginia’s state elections are evident in the legislation being introduced and advanced by the majority. This includes bills that increase taxes, remove qualified immunity for our law enforcement, decrease penalties for violent criminals, and expand onerous business regulations. There are also two bills that target the Virginia Military Institute. One creates a task force to study whether the Institute should continue to be state supported, and the other places it under the purview of Virginia State University. The study bill passed out of the Rules – Studies subcommittee Friday afternoon. VMI is a national treasure that produces some of the finest men and women that I have ever met, and I will do everything possible to oppose these bills. Most urgent now, however, is the bill that deals with the constitutional amendment on redistricting.
This past Thursday, only thirty minutes before an ad hoc House Appropriations Committee meeting, the majority unveiled a sweeping bill authorizing a special election, now set for April 21, 2026, on their proposed redistricting constitutional amendment. The legislation combines several components that would normally be considered separately and by numerous committees over the course of an entire session: special-election funding, ballot explanation language, and the retroactive repeal of longstanding public-notice requirements that date back to 1971.
Of particular note, this bill appropriates $5 million for a single-issue special election for early voting and voter education. In addition, the proposal creates a temporary redistricting authority limited to 2025–2030, raising valid concerns about constitutional clarity and potentially confusing voters. The proposed ballot language states:
Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia's standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?
This language presents itself as a neutral, temporary measure, but in reality it permits the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts outside the constitutionally approved redistricting commission, undermining the reform Virginians overwhelmingly adopted to ensure a fair and impartial process.
As Ranking Republican on Appropriations, I pushed back on this maneuver in committee and made it clear to the bill patron that I thought this to be a regrettable reaction to other states that will end up being detrimental to Virginians. Though the majority has grown since last year’s elections as a response to our federal government’s 'Republican makeup, I reminded the committee that our current congressional maps are the product of the voter-approved constitutional amendment adopted just five years ago and approved by 66 percent of Virginians.
As I have stated before, these districts were drawn by the Virginia Supreme Court and produced balanced, competitive representation: a 6–5 Democratic-Republican split in Congress, 51–49 in the House of Delegates, and 21–19 in the State Senate. These results accurately reflect a closely divided Commonwealth and demonstrate that the process worked as intended.
Despite my and my Republican colleagues’ protestations the bill has been fast-tracked to the House floor for final passage. The ballot language included in the measure presents the proposal as a matter of “restoring fairness,” but in practice would allow the majority to appropriate $5 million to politically redraw congressional districts in a way that would significantly reduce representation of rural Virginia’s political influence by creating districts anchored in Northern Virginia. Virginians voted decisively to end partisan gerrymandering. Moving forward with this proposal through an expedited process, limited notice, and a low-turnout special election undermines both that decision and public trust in the General Assembly and our legislative process.
Unfortunately, with large majorities also come the minimization of good bills. This includes my HB789 which directed the Department of Health to form a work group to review the Virginia State Anatomical Program, specifically how it is funded and managed. Last year, it was brought to my attention by a constituent doctor that over the last ten years, there has been a decline in the program’s ability to reliably procure and distribute whole-body donors.
As a result, Virginia institutions have faced donor shortages, increased staffing burdens, and significant challenges in planning medical education programs. These programs have thus been forced to utilize out-of-state procurement, incurring higher costs that trickle down through the entire ecosystem further exacerbating the problem. Modern medicine relies on cadavers as much as it does new technologies, and any ability to save money and streamline the process should be reviewed by the experts who work in the field every day. The bill died in committee on Friday without even being heard.
In more positive news, it was great to see our Alleghany 4-H, Craig County, and James River Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters here in Richmond. I always enjoy spending time with our young men and women to discuss the legislative process and their passion for farming, caring for animals, and community service.
We also welcomed local economic developers representing the Virginia Economic Development Association (VEDA) and heavy construction contractors and road builders from across the Commonwealth representing the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA). Both groups walked the halls to advocate for policies that will grow our economy and express concerns about policies that will make it more difficult and costly to do business in Virginia, such as a repeal of Right-to-Work. Economic development offices work to increase job opportunities, and our road builders work to ensure that people and product have the safest and most reliable surface transportation networks possible. I thank all these groups for taking the time to advocate on behalf of their respective groups and industries.
It is an honor to serve you in the Virginia House of Delegates. If I can be of assistance to you, or you would like to share your position on any of my legislative priorities, please do not hesitate to contact me at DelTAustin@House.Virginia.gov or 804-698-1037. | | | | | |
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