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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Feb. 5, 2025:
Campaign finance bills now need to survive the other chamber
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
On a make-or-break day for campaign finance bills, both the Virginia House and Senate advanced proposals. It enables legislation to head to the other chamber, where the bills will again have to be approved in order to make it to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk.
The bills passing Tuesday included those restricting campaign funds from being used for personal use, allowing localities to explore publicly financing elections and two requiring disclosures on AI generated content.
“We're seeing some progress, and it's incremental. It feels like baby steps on a lot of the stuff,” said Del. Marcus Simon (D–Fairfax), who has proposed limits on the use of campaign funds for several years. “That's generally how we do things here in Virginia, for better or for worse, right? We tend to avoid massive changes all at once.”
Richmond board declares public schools immigration ‘safe zone’
Reported by VPM News’ Keyris Manzanares
The Richmond City School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt a resolution declaring the city’s schools a “safe zone” from immigration enforcement.
The resolution — and an accompanying update to the district’s policy on engaging with law enforcement — come on the heels of President Donald Trump’s administration clearing the way for immigration officers to carry out arrests at schools.
The updated policy directs school principals to only allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any state or local law enforcement agencies attempting to enforce federal immigration policy on ICE’s behalf, to enter RPS schools with a signed and valid warrant or subpoena.
As deportation fears grow among Richmond’s immigrant community, the board adopted a resolution stating that “it is the right of every child, regardless of immigration status, to access a free public K-12 education” — and RPS’s responsibility to ensure they can do so safely.
It also reiterates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any state or local law enforcement agencies attempting to enforce federal immigration policy on ICE’s behalf, must follow the division’s revised policy on interacting with law enforcement authorities.
The resolution — and an accompanying update to the district’s policy on engaging with law enforcement — come on the heels of President Donald Trump’s administration clearing the way for immigration officers to carry out arrests at schools.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- Deliberate injustice: Virginia set to pay millions to three wrongfully convicted men (Virginia Mercury)
- Report finds fault with FBI site selection process, but not with the Greenbelt site (Maryland Matters)
- New FERC chairman talks electric bills, energy demand and the Mountain Valley Pipeline (Cardinal News)
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