Richmond Water Crisis Continues, Disrupts Virginia General Assembly

A major water crisis in Richmond is causing significant disruptions, including changes to Virginia’s legislative schedule.

Efforts to fully restore water service hit another setback Tuesday evening, hours before the Virginia General Assembly was set to convene for its 2025 session. The crisis began when a winter storm knocked out power to the city’s water treatment plant, and the situation worsened due to an equipment failure that slowed recovery efforts, according to city officials. As a result, all state office buildings in Richmond, including the State Capitol and the General Assembly Building, were forced to close, along with state offices in Hanover County.

Despite these challenges, both the Virginia House and Senate began their session at noon today (January 8) but will now pause until Monday, January 13. Governor Glenn Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth Address, originally scheduled for today, will now take place on Monday morning.

Governor Youngkin is in his final term before the Fall 2025 election season. His budget priorities include tax cuts, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing public safety, improving healthcare, boosting economic development, and strengthening Virginia’s technology infrastructure. He also plans to improve safety on Interstate 81 and expand the runway at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.

SOURCE: Virginia Mercury