By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
A proposed mattress fee is off the table after Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed a slate of bills in her first year, including measures tied to criminal enforcement, vehicle sales and gaming regulation.
Spanberger has vetoed eight bills so far, fewer than recent governors. Former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued 33 vetoes in his first year, while former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam issued 20.
The vetoes touch on a range of issues, from how criminal cases are handled to whether new costs are passed on to consumers.
One of those vetoes covered House Bill 86, which would have created a mattress recycling program funded through a new fee on purchases. In her veto message, Spanberger said the plan would require retailers to participate in a single system and could increase costs, calling the structure “unworkable for the commonwealth.”
Another veto targets House Bill 1288 and Senate Bill 17, which would have raised the threshold for selling a vehicle without a court order from $12,500 to $17,000. Spanberger said companies often take temporary possession of vehicles in routine situations and warned, “Virginians should not have to worry that the company with temporary possession of their vehicle can sell it.”
Other vetoes focused on criminal law and how cases are prosecuted.
House Bill 637 would have created a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug residue. Spanberger said the change could lead to unintended consequences, including making some offenders ineligible for drug court programs.
Senate Bill 764 would have expanded the use of deferred dispositions in criminal cases, including certain driving offenses. Spanberger said the bill removes key guardrails and raised concerns about accountability, particularly in DUI-related cases.
“Virginia’s criminal justice system must be fair, equitable, and focused on rehabilitation as well as accountability and public safety, and Senate Bill 764 undermines accountability and public safety,” she said.
Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 23, which would have restricted plea agreements by limiting when defendants can waive certain constitutional rights. Spanberger said those waivers are already commonly used and that limiting them would reduce options for both defendants and prosecutors.
On the business side, Senate Bill 661 would have legalized and taxed electronic skill gaming machines.
“The rapid expansion of gaming in Virginia over the last decade has outpaced the Commonwealth’s ability to provide consistent enforcement, robust public safety oversight, and meaningful assessments of the potential impacts or harms of gaming in all its forms,” Spanberger said in her veto message.
Each of the bills now returns to the General Assembly, which is scheduled to reconvene Wednesday of next week, where lawmakers can attempt to override the vetoes with a two-thirds vote.
Spanberger has also proposed amendments to additional legislation, meaning more bills could still return to her desk for final action.
