By TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE | Tribune News Service
PUBLISHED: December 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM EST | UPDATED: December 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM EST

​By Trebor Maitin, Centre Daily Times
After a slow year, Harrisburg had a spurt of productivity in December, with state legislators sending a half dozen bills to the governor’s desk.
The bills, likely to become law after clearing the Legislature with veto-proof, bipartisan majorities, would ban vape products not approved by the federal government, expand the number of places where alcohol can be served and provide a new avenue for municipalities to fill vacancies.
The bills would largely take effect in the first half of the new year, if signed soon.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Josh Shapiro said the office did not have anything to share “at this time” about the status of outstanding legislation. In Pennsylvania, bills the governor does not sign or veto automatically become law 10 days after the office receives them.
Additionally, a number of signed new bills will be in effect in the coming weeks, including changes to Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, requirements for employers to cover mammograms and more.
Here’s a rundown of Pennsylvania bills likely to become law soon.
New DUI offenseA bill on the governor’s desk would create the new offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance following diversion.
Those who were booked for a DUI but avoided trial by agreeing to treatment would be able to be charged for driving under the influence within 10 years of completing the diversion program if the bill were to become law.
The law would take effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature.
Liquor license reformsA bill that easily passed the House and Senate would strike a rule requiring caterers to give at least seven-day advance notice to authorities if they plan to serve alcohol at funerals.
The rule change would especially affect Jewish and Hindu funerals, as the dead in those faiths usually must be buried within a day. Muslims have similar burial rules but largely abstain from alcohol.
This portion of the bill would take effect two months after receiving the governor’s signature, or late February if it is signed soon.
Other reforms included in the bill would allow nonprofits to sell alcohol during fundraising events, allow stadiums to sell alcohol outside their premises during major sporting events, allow the state liquor authority to auction off licenses that failed to receive bids during previous auctions and allow alcohol to be consumed in spaces adjacent to a given seller’s premises, like a common seating area, if the property owner gives permission.
The auction portion of the bill would take effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature and the sporting event portion would take effect in one month, roughly the end of January if the bill is signed soon.
The rest of the bill would take effect two months after being signed.
Vacancy-proofing municipalitiesA bill on the governor’s desk would allow the court of common pleas to fill vacancies in sparsely-populated townships when the townships’ vacancy board is unable to act or itself has a majority of seats vacant.
The bill, if it becomes law, would affect all townships in Centre County starting two months after it is signed.
Unemployment benefits reformA bill awaiting the governor’s signature would require unemployment benefit claimants to make a good-faith effort to get a job, clarifies how overpayments are treated and add protections for people who left a job due to domestic violence.
All the provisions start two months after the bill’s signature.
The bill would also double the earnings requirement needed for unemployment claimants who lost benefits for disqualifying reasons to requalify starting one year after the bill is signed.
Ban of unapproved vape productsThe most controversial bill awaiting the governor’s signature (having received 56 no votes from House Republicans) would ban vape products not approved by the federal government. It fines up to $500 for each illegal product sold by a retailer on first offense. Subsequent violations can result in fines up to $1,500 and nicotine license revocations.
The bill would take effect four months after receiving the governor’s signature, or April if it is signed soon.

WTWO Terre Haute
Christopher Boyll

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law a permanent cocktail-to-go law on December 12.
The law allows restaurants to sell mixed drinks and cocktails for delivery and curbside pickup. According to the Illinois Restaurant Association stated that cocktails-to-go helped keep establishments afloat during the pandemic and continue to help restaurants stay competitive.
“We thank Gov. Pritzker and applaud the General Assembly for passing Senate Bill 618, which guarantees that alcohol delivery and cocktails-to-go can continue through 2028 and beyond, preserving a vital source of revenue for restaurants across the state,” said Sam Toia, CEO and President of the Illinois Restaurant Association.
The bill includes safeguards such as strict container requirements and age verification to attempt to ensure responsible service and compliance. The legislation also allows those with a craft brewer license to offer rewards and loyalty programs like mug clubs for their customers.
“Illinois becomes the 30th state, plus Washington, D.C., to make cocktails-to-go permanent. This commonsense policy is a win for restaurants, employees, and customers across Illinois. The modern restaurant consumer is looking to order their meals to-go more often, and allowing operators to include alcoholic beverages as part of those orders provides them with new ways to set themselves apart and to meet customer interest,” said Mike Whatley, Vice President of State Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy, National Restaurant Association.
The bill was voted through unanimously in the State Senate and won 104 to six during the veto session in the House of Representatives.

The Free Lance Star
​ERIC KOLENICH Richmond TimesDispatch

As Democratic lawmakers in Virginia prepare to launch a legal market to buy and sell recreational cannabis, they intend to make the law more absolute. Localities would not be able to opt out if the bill passes as currently proposed.

Earlier this year, when the General Assembly passed a bill to greenlight the sale of marijuana, the patrons included a provision that would let a county or city conduct a referendum and keep marijuana sales illegal, should the residents choose to do so. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who opposes establishing a market for legal cannabis sales, vetoed the legislation. 

Now that Democrats will soon control the governor's mansion in addition to both chambers of the legislature they plan to reintroduce the bill when the General Assembly convenes next month. On Tuesday, a joint commission on cannabis unveiled 50 ways in which lawmakers intend to change the bill from its 2025 version, including elimination of the opt-out clause. 

"There will not be dry counties like in the days of alcohol," said Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, one of the bill's sponsors, referring to the Prohibition era of the 1920s and '30s. 

If Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger signs the legislation she has indicated support for it the legal market to buy and sell marijuana would begin Nov. 1, 2026. The law would aim to promote agriculture, reduce the racial disparities created by the prohibition of marijuana, protect public safety and promote small business, Krizek said. Virginia legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2021 but never created a framework for buying or selling it. 

Lawmakers have not yet officially submitted the bill and can still make changes. They still want to hear from the public, they said Tuesday. 

"There's still a lot of tweaking going on," Krizek added. 

Letting a county or city remove itself from the legal market would force the locality to opt in to the black market, Krizek said. 

Todd Gathje, from the conservative advocacy group The Family Foundation, disputed the idea that opting out would encourage illegal sales. In some states that have legalized marijuana sales, the illegal market persists because it offers a cheaper product. 

"The illegal market is alive and well," Gathje said. 

Krizek said the legal market will displace illegal sales because the state will ensure products are tested to be clean and safe and properly labeled to show their dosage. Plus, authorities will make sure stores check that buyers are at least 21 years old. Currently, tobacco shops that illegally sell cannabis in Southwest Virginia often offer products contaminated with mold or remnants of fecal matter and no indication of their dosage, Alaina Holt, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, told the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority earlier this fall. 

There would be a windfall for localities in the form of a sales tax. Buyers would pay 12.75% in taxes, with up to 3.5% going to the locality. 

Lawmakers are also considering extending the distance between licensed marijuana shops from 1,000 feet to one mile to spread them out. They plan to issue 350 retail licenses, meaning there could be almost as many cannabis dispensaries as Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control stores across the state. 

The city of Richmond already passed an ordinance that prohibits marijuana, tobacco, nicotine or vape shops from opening near homes, schools and day cares. The law bans them from 80% of the city. Many of these shops are already selling cannabis illegally, and they have become hotspots for crime, police said. 

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, said he would like the legislature to toughen the penalty on public consumption. Currently, if a person is caught consuming cannabis in public, he or she can receive a $25 civil fine. A stiffer penalty would help residents who are concerned they will smell marijuana as they walk down public sidewalks, he said. 

But one member of the public said that residents who rent apartments may not be allowed to smoke cannabis in their homes if the landlord prohibits smoking. If the resident does not have a private yard, he or she has no place to consume. 

Under the proposed bill, the Cannabis Control Authority would start accepting applications for licenses in the summer, and sales would begin Nov. 1, 2026. Some members of the public have said small businesses may not be able to open that quickly, and an early start date will help large-scale operators dominate the market. 

Krizek said legislators are writing the bill so that big-tobacco-type companies cannot monopolize the industry. The bill would create a microbusiness license that allows small businesses to grow, process and sell their own marijuana. The provision would limit the amount of space a small business could devote to growing the plant, which is known as a canopy limit. 

The legislation also would create a license for businesses to deliver marijuana which has become a popular option for customers. 

The Hampton Roads Messenger
Staff

Norfolk, VA – Today, Attorney General-Elect Jay Jones announced the senior leadership team that will guide the Office of the Attorney General when he takes office in January: Tillman Breckenridge will serve as Solicitor General, Travis Hill as Chief Deputy Attorney General, and Nicky Zamostny as Chief of Staff. These leaders are experienced, respected legal experts and public servants who will work with the Attorney General-Elect to keep communities safe, protect Virginia jobs, and defend Virginians’ fundamental rights.
“This is an exceptional group of public servants who bring integrity, experience, and a deep commitment to delivering results for Virginians,” said Attorney General-Elect Jones. “They reflect the strength and diversity of the Commonwealth, and together, we will build an Attorney General’s office that stands up for every Virginian. I look forward to getting to work to ensure this office keeps communities safe, defends fundamental rights, and puts Virginia first.” 
Tillman Breckenridge, Solicitor General
Breckenridge will be the first African-American Solicitor General in Virginia’s history
Tillman Breckenridge is an experienced appellate lawyer and partner at Stris & Maher. In 2018, he became the youngest fellow ever—and the first under 40—elected to the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Tillman has represented companies, organizations, individuals, and foreign, state, and local governments before the United States Supreme Court, every federal court of appeals, and several state courts, such as the Supreme Court of Virginia, the California Courts of Appeal, and the Illinois Courts of Appeal. His work has led to numerous honors. He has been named to Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Black Lawyers in America; an honorary member of the Order of the Barristers; a Washington, D.C. SuperLawyer; and a member of Virginia’s Legal Elite. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Outside of his private practice, Tillman has served as an adjunct professor of law at William and Mary Law School, where he founded the Appellate & Supreme Court Clinic. And he regularly speaks on appellate and related topics. He is a member of the Virginia Advisory Committee on Rules of Court. He is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. And he is a member of the Boyd-Graves Conference. Tillman earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he argued (successfully) his first appeal as a third-year student in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in a case that presented an issue of first impression. 
Travis Hill, Chief Deputy Attorney General 
Since February 2024, Travis Hill has served as counsel in the Global Economic Development, Commerce and Government Relations Group of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in Richmond. Hill’s prior public service includes almost a decade as head of Virginia ABC. He was appointed COO of the agency in 2014 by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and led the multiyear effort to transform ABC from a state agency to an authority. He was appointed as CEO by Gov. Ralph Northam in 2018 and reappointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2022. Hill’s roles had him at the helm of the complex retail and regulatory organization that generated billions of dollars of revenue with 399 retail locations, 8 regional offices and over 4,600 teammates, including more than 100 sworn law enforcement officers who regulated over 20,000 licensed businesses. During his time at ABC, Hill worked with the ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement to align priorities on public safety and enhance the professional standing of the Bureau, resulting in ABC achieving and maintaining accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission since 2015 and earning Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency of the Year from the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association in 2018 and 2021. Prior to his time at ABC, Hill served as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Gov. Bob McDonnell and Gov. McAuliffe where he conceptualized and implemented new strategies and programs focused on economic development and served as the primary point of contact on management and regulatory issues involving assigned agencies. Prior to entering public service, he worked as an attorney in the Richmond office of the law firm Williams Mullen. He has held leadership positions with industry and professional organizations including service as president of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, as a member of the Virginia Bar Association Board of Governors, and chair of the Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. He was named to the Virginia Business Virginia 500 Power List each year from 2020-2023.  Travis earned his J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nicky Zamostny, Chief of Staff
Nicky Zamostny has served as the President of Riverside Strategies, a Richmond-based government affairs firm since November 2021. Prior to launching her consulting firm, Nicky served two Virginia governors, including as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security under Governor Ralph Northam and as Assistant Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security under Governor Terry McAuliffe. During her tenure in both administrations, Nicky led and supported numerous high-profile initiatives. Notably, she served as the director of the task force established following the deadly Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, VA, which developed nationwide best practices for incidents of civil unrest. She also helped to pass a bipartisan gun violence prevention compromise, supported the implementation of a statewide school safety study and subsequent reforms, and worked to pass bipartisan criminal justice reforms. Nicky grew up in Northern Virginia and now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

The Daily Press
By KATE SELTZER | [email protected] | Staff writer


A cannabis retail market could be coming to Virginia as soon as next November, if the General Assembly passes the legislation and Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger signs off on it. Since 2021, Virginians have been able to legally possess marijuana for personal use but unable to legally purchase it.
The Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market rolled out the legislative proposal Tuesday afternoon, which amends legislationpassed last session but was vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, then and previously.
“States following this path have seen adverse effects on children’s and adolescent’s health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with retail marijuana that far exceed tax revenue,” Youngkin wrote in his veto explanation.
That legislation contained a provision that would have allowed localities to opt out of a retail market. But this year’s proposal gets rid of that option. It also increases the amount localities can tax from 2.5% to 3.5%.
“By allowing opting out, what we’re really doing is allowing opting in to the illicit market,” said Commission Chair Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax. “So there will not be any dry counties, like in the days of alcohol.”
That’s a problem for the conservative Christian group Family Foundation.
​

“I think that our opposition to legalization and commercialization is fairly well known,” Todd Gathje, a lobbyist for the group, said during the public comment period at Tuesday’s commission meeting. “I think we’re extremely discouraged by the fact that we’re not going to have some type of local referendum to allow localities to decide what’s going to be put in their localities.”
Others took issue with the introduction of a provision that would require the commission to study the possibility of involving the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (Virginia ABC) with the enforcement of laws and regulations related to the cannabis retail market.
“We made a conscious decision, I think it was in 2021, to establish a Cannabis Control Authority to regulate cannabis and be focused on cannabis and to follow some of the best practices from pharmaceutical,” said Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria. “I don’t know why we’re bringing back a study of the ABC being involved in it.”
A representative for Virginians for Safer Cannabis agreed, saying the organization was on solid ground with the up-and-running CCA and would oppose efforts to make ABC a regulating body.
And some people were worried about next year’s potential start state. Chelsea Higgs Wise with Marijuana Justice thanked the commission for its work but said the CCA might not be prepared for the tight turnaround.
“We will continue to say that we’re worried about the early start that November 1 might provide, and just a realistic chain of events, that CCA may not be able to hire, train and implement the staff needed,” she said.
The current proposal says that up to 50% of the available licenses would go to microbusinesses that would operate on a small scale. And the CCA would give special attention to individuals seeking licenses that met certain criteria, like having been convicted in the past of distributing marijuana or residing in a jurisdiction determined to have been disproportionately policed for marijuana crimes.
Higgs Wise worried that microbusinesses and hemp retailers seeking to convert their license to marijuana retail might not be ready in time for a Nov. 1 start date.
“Our suggestion is to … say that our November 1 start date would be a go as long as these other operators are certified and ready to go as well, because there could be a hold-up that is not their own fault,” she said.
Some hemp retailers, who spoke during public comment period, expressed concern that they would be unable to procure one of the 350 available licenses for retail marijuana sale, and a legalized marijuana market would stifle their competition.