Feb. 6, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: Once again, Mike Lowry told us the sky is falling. His proof? Apocalyptic tax bills before the General Assembly!
He warns about HRB378, implying that everyone with investment income will be impoverished by a new tax. Not so much. Top Virginian earners pay 5.75% on their adjusted gross income. The bill does tax any net investment income (NII) at 3.8%. But that tax does not kick in at all until your NII reaches $520,000 whereupon you’d owe an additional $380 a year. Horrors! Yeah, it would go up if your NII hits $1.2 million, but folks at that income can handle it.
Lowry mentions HB378 which is: 1. Little different than HB378, and 2. A bill that the Finance Subcommittee tabled and thus effectively stopped.
HB919 would create an 11% tax on the retail sale of firearms and ammunition in Virginia, but directs all revenue to the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. As a gun owner I have zero problem with sales taxes used for that program.
Finally, there are HB900 and HB978, identical proposals. Both lower the state’s sales tax from 4.3 to 4%, a decrease for anyone purchasing tangible goods. The tax would be newly applied to sundry services (dog grooming, nail treatments) and digital services (e.g. Netflix, YouTube-TV). So my YouTube TV bill would go from $82.99 a month to $86.31 per month or a $3.32 increase. My irritation is not with the proposed tax; I am good with $3.22 a month to support the work of VDOT, the State Patrol, and other state services. I am perpetually irked at what YouTube TV charges, but then that’s my problem for using the service.
Finally, Lowry insinuates that Governor Spanberger wishes to populate our state with violent criminals. That broaches libel and is unworthy of further comment. WALTER BOUZARD Rockbridge County
