THANK YOU
for helping to ensure that Southwest Virginia always has a voice at the table in Richmond
CONTRIBUTE TO TODD PILLION
NEWS FROM THE 6TH SENATE DISTRICT
Recent News
October 23, 2026
Southwest Virginia lawmakers urge SCC review of Old Dominion Power’s proposed hike
Sen. Todd Pillion, Del. Israel O’Quinn, and House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore are urging the State Corporation Commission to closely scrutinize Old Dominion Power’s proposed 23% rate increase — about $43 more a month for the average household in Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, and Wise counties, and the company’s second increase in roughly 15 months. The lawmakers say the size and timing of the hike would strain seniors and working families.
Read MoreSeptember 18, 2026
Sen. Pillion presents $3M check to Dickenson County from Opioid Abatement Authority
As chairman of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, Sen. Pillion presented Dickenson County with more than $3 million in opioid settlement funds. The money will build a gymnasium on the new Wildwood Recovery Center campus and launch Recovery Connections Southwest Virginia, an effort to bring the region’s recovery resources together in one place.
Read MoreSeptember 16, 2026
Opioid authority awards $12.3 million for prevention, treatment and recovery in Virginia
The Opioid Abatement Authority approved more than $12.3 million for 39 projects across 18 state agencies and public universities, from naloxone distribution to campus recovery programs — including nearly $63,000 for first-responder simulation training at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. “These awards strengthen the partnerships that are helping Virginia prevent opioid misuse,” said Sen. Pillion, who chairs the Authority’s board.
Read MoreAugust 31, 2026
Southwest inland port gets $20M state boost
For years, Southwest Virginia lawmakers have pushed for adding a second inland port to the Port of Virginia system, saying it could bring jobs and investment to their corner of the state, which has suffered from the coal industry’s decline. State Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, served this year as a budget conferee. “I kind of made sure that this project stayed at the forefront,” he says, “so I’m excited.”
Read MoreJuly 29, 2026
State budget funds dental hygiene training, targets new Southwest Virginia program by 2027
The Commonwealth of Virginia is pushing to improve the state’s gap between patient demand and equipped dental hygienists. This year, the state budget includes $20 million to support the expansion of career and technical education programs in the Virginia Community College System, including dental hygiene. The budget also includes $1 million to establish a dedicated fund to support the expansion of dental hygiene education programs in Virginia.
Read MoreMarch 6, 2026
Budget conferees named; Austin and Pillion among the negotiators
Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, and Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt County, are among the conferees tasked with hashing out the differences in the House of Delegates and state Senate biennial budget bills. Those proposals, presented by each money committee in February, differed widely — the House proposal outlines $71.5 billion in appropriations over the biennium while the Senate proposed spending roughly $74 billion.
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