General Assembly ceremonially gavels in before leaving town thanks to Richmond’s water crisis
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - The 2025 General Assembly session is officially here…kind of. “Normally this place is bustling, there are lots of people cramming into the galleries, we are tripping over lobbyists that are trying to get us to talk about legislation…but today there is… no one,” Delegate Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights) told 8News. After being greeted by portable toilets in Capitol Square and signs saying not to use the bathrooms inside the State Capitol, lawmakers officially opened the 2025 General Assembly Session Wednesday at Noon before gaveling out less than 90 minutes later. The decision to send lawmakers home for the weekend after procedurally beginning the session as required by the state constitution was made by House and Senate leadership because of the water crisis plaguing Virginia’s capital city. “We will be okay. We have seen tougher times,” House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) said. Scott said the decision to effectively postpone the start of the session came down to one thing, safety. “If you don’t have water, then you don’t have a sprinkler system in a place where you may have people as high as the 15th floor,” Scott explained. Despite the delay, which compresses what is already a short 45-day session, both Republicans and Democrats say it won’t stop them from accomplishing their goals. “We might have to work on the weekends so look forward to coming in on a Saturday or Sunday to get things done if we have to,” said Scott. “We are not slowing down at all. We plan to get the job done in the 45 days the Constitution prescribed,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle told 8News. Lawmakers will return to Richmond on January 13.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - The 2025 General Assembly session is officially here…kind of.
“Normally this place is bustling, there are lots of people cramming into the galleries, we are tripping over lobbyists that are trying to get us to talk about legislation…but today there is… no one,” Delegate Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights) told 8News.
After being greeted by portable toilets in Capitol Square and signs saying not to use the bathrooms inside the State Capitol, lawmakers officially opened the 2025 General Assembly Session Wednesday at Noon before gaveling out less than 90 minutes later.
The decision to send lawmakers home for the weekend after procedurally beginning the session as required by the state constitution was made by House and Senate leadership because of the water crisis plaguing Virginia’s capital city.
“We will be okay. We have seen tougher times,” House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) said.
Scott said the decision to effectively postpone the start of the session came down to one thing, safety.
“If you don’t have water, then you don’t have a sprinkler system in a place where you may have people as high as the 15th floor,” Scott explained.
Despite the delay, which compresses what is already a short 45-day session, both Republicans and Democrats say it won’t stop them from accomplishing their goals.
“We might have to work on the weekends so look forward to coming in on a Saturday or Sunday to get things done if we have to,” said Scott.
“We are not slowing down at all. We plan to get the job done in the 45 days the Constitution prescribed,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle told 8News.
Lawmakers will return to Richmond on January 13.
