On February 18, 2026, Bob Shippee and Corrina Beall discussed the status of the 2026 Virginia General Assembly. This was Crossover Day, the midpoint of the legislative session. We now have all three bodies (executive branch, senate, and legislature) led by Democrats, who are generally pro-environment, pro-health, and pro-clean air / water.

Bob Shippee is the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Legislative Chair and Corrina Beall is the Sierra Club Virginia Legislative and Political Director.  They are highly talented in the legislative process and are already guiding the chapter’s legislative agenda during the session.

Some highlights:  Virginia will rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which makes polluters pay for messes they create (Governor Youngkin illegally withdrew Virginia from RGGI during his term).  Many bills have been brought up concerning Data Centers - in particular making them “pay their fair share.”   Other bills include issues such as solar siting and other clean energy initiatives.

Bills dealing with limiting overfishing of menhaden (“the most important fish in the bay”) did not successfully cross over.  This is a difficult clashing point between environmental conservation and labor.

A big focus this year is the Governor’s “Affordable Virginia Agenda,” which works to reduce the cost of our utility bills.  Most of these bills align with Sierra Club priorities.