Virginia Democrats Propose Dozens of New Tax Hikes, Including on Dog Walking and Dry Cleaning

The new tax proposals come despite campaign promises to make Virginia more affordable.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Virginia Democrats have introduced over 50 new tax proposals that would add taxes to a range of services, including dog walking, gym memberships, and deliveries made by companies like Amazon and FedEx. This comes despite the party's campaign promises to make the state more affordable for residents. Republican lawmakers have criticized the proposals, saying they go against the tax-cutting efforts of neighboring states.

Why it matters

The proposed tax hikes from Virginia Democrats raise concerns about the party's commitment to affordability, especially as neighboring states work to lower taxes to attract residents and businesses. The new taxes could significantly impact the budgets of Virginia families and small businesses.

The details

The new tax proposals from Virginia Democrats include a delivery tax that would apply to orders from companies like Amazon, Uber Eats, FedEx, and UPS, as well as additional local sales tax in all Virginia counties and cities. Other proposed taxes target services like dog walking and gym memberships. The Democrats gained a large majority in the state legislature in the 2025 elections, allowing them to push these new tax measures.

  • The new tax proposals were introduced at the start of the 2026 legislative session in Virginia.
  • In 2025, Virginia Democrats picked up several seats in the House of Delegates, resulting in a large Democratic majority.

The players

Abigail Spanberger

The newly sworn-in Democratic governor of Virginia who ran on a platform of making the state more affordable.

Tara Durant

A Republican state senator in Virginia who criticized the Democrats' tax proposals, saying they go against their campaign promises to make life more affordable for Virginians.

Don Scott

The Democratic speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Scott Surovell

The Democratic majority leader of the Virginia State Senate.

Grover Norquist

The leader of Americans for Tax Reform, a group that advocates for lower taxes, who criticized the Virginia Democrats' tax proposals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Virginians should judge Democrats by their actions, not their campaign slogans. And their actions speak for themselves—pushing dozens of new tax proposals that raise costs on hardworking families. Virginians deserve leadership that actually makes life more affordable, not more expensive.”

— Tara Durant, Republican state Senator

“It's always a bad time to raise taxes, but it would be particularly foolish for Governor Spanberger and the Democrats who now control Richmond to do so at this time of heightened state tax competition. Governors and lawmakers in other states aren't just seeking to reduce income taxes and other levies, they're pursuing full tax elimination in many state capitals.”

— Grover Norquist, Leader of Americans for Tax Reform

What’s next

The Virginia legislature will continue debating the proposed tax hikes in the coming months, with a final vote expected before the end of the legislative session.

The takeaway

The Virginia Democrats' push for new taxes on services like dog walking and deliveries, despite campaign promises of affordability, highlights the ongoing tension between the party's policy agenda and the concerns of residents and businesses about the cost of living in the state. As neighboring states work to lower taxes, Virginia's approach could make it less competitive in attracting residents and employers.