A great day learning about the work of the @wildlifecenter_va AND celebrating the launch of the new USPS Bald Eagle Stamps 📫🦅 with @amylaufer55 and @secretarybulova . The Wildlife Center aims to teach the world to care about and care for our natural environment. The restoration of eagle populations is a wonderful example of how we can make a change. On that note, a reminder that predatory birds often come to the center with lead toxicity. If you are a hunter or fisher consider switching to lead free ammo and tackle.
Great day yesterday at the signing of a number of solar related bills - including allowing plug-in 🔌 balcony solar! (HB395). Yes, you can buy a solar unit online, plug it in, and starting January 1, 2027 ⏳ generate up to 1200W of power to lower your electricity bill. The units are portable and can move with you if you are a renter!
Also, it’s always a joy to attend Cville REA events. Charlottesville is a leader and hub of innovation and economic growth in the renewable energy sector, especially solar ☀️. It was great to provide a legislative update and have industry discussion about some of the 200+ energy related bills passed this year. @creighdeeds@cville.rea
“In November 2022, three students here at the University of Virginia were shot and killed on Grounds — Devin Chandler. Lavel Davis Jr. D’Sean Perry. This horrific tragedy devastated this community and our Commonwealth,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “Their families, friends, and football teammates deserve more than shared grief. They deserve action.”
Spanberger continued, “Right now, carrying a firearm on a college campus is prohibited — but only by regulation. That makes it harder for campus police to intervene, harder to enforce, and harder to protect students. By signing these bills into law, we are taking a commonsense step forward to keep students safe in Virginia. I’m deeply grateful for the efforts of Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Katrina Callsen to repeatedly pass this legislation through the General Assembly and help lead the way in building a safer Virginia for all.” 🧡🧡🧡
Recently, the Virginia Housing Alliance was honored as the recipient of the 2025 Industry Partner Award from the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA).
This award recognized VHA’s continued leadership and advocacy around #affordablehousing. In particular, VHA worked with Delegate Katrina Callsen in 2025 to pass HB2245, which improved the property tax valuation process for affordable housing – freeing up provider resources for building maintenance and resident services.
The 2025 Industry Partner Award was presented to VHA on March 25th. We were so grateful that Delegate Callsen, whose dedication made the bill’s passage possible, could attend and accept the award with us. In addition, we were happily joined by Alice Fletcher, the Senior Vice President of Park Properties Management Co, whose expert feedback was also integral to the success of HB2245.
We appreciate NAHMA for all of their hard work and for giving us an opportunity to celebrate important advocacy wins such as this one. Thank you for recognizing our continued efforts to advance affordable housing opportunities across Virginia!
It is starting to feel like summer. ☀️🌞 It was great to talk with the Leadership Project on Grounds @uva with @creighdeeds , show support at Labor In the Park as we ask the Governor to sign bills on her desk ( @vea4kids@ucwvirginia and many more), and get some great food and music at Soup, Songs, and Solidarity for @sin.barreras.cville
A great after school meeting with CHS Students for Fair Elections, a student organized group that made over 1300 contacts with voters this past week. They asked stellar questions about our democracy, partisanship, and how things are in Richmond. Events like this bring me so much joy! Election Day is April 21st! Tuesday!!
Today Governor Spanberger came to Cville to unveil her Strategic Plan for Tourism. Our state truly has is all…history, mountains, ocean, rural and urban destinations, 🍷, food, and so much more. Glad our Governor is being proactive with a plan to keep our tourism industry vibrant and growing. The Cville area alone has an over billion dollar tourism industry supporting over 7,000 jobs! Find out more about the plan at /industryinitiatives/strategictourismplan/. @juandiegowade@amylaufer55@creighdeeds
