A bill authorizing the construction of a new arena to bring the Washington Wizards and Capitals to Virginia passed through the state’s House of Delegates on Tuesday. The proposal, which would establish a stadium authority to issue public bonds, passed 59-40.
The bill will now cross over to the Virginia Senate.
The legislation has taken a hit in recent days. State Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a powerful Democrat, said the bill was dead on arrival in the Senate.
“As far as I’m concerned, it is [dead],” Ms. Lucas told reporters Monday. “As long as the full faith and credit of this commonwealth is backing this project, my answer continues to be an absolute no.”
Ms. Lucas, chairwoman of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, refused to advance a Senate bill for the stadium authority. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has voiced his support of the arena.
“Governor’s Arena Bill is not on the Senate Finance and Appropriations docket because his proposal is not ready for prime time,” Ms. Lucas wrote on X. “This is what happens when Executive Branch doesn’t operate in good faith and doesn’t have respect for the Legislative Branch.”
If the proposal does not clear the Senate, anti-arena advocates believe Mr. Youngkin could still work to advance the stadium plans.
“Language similar to these proposals are included in the governor’s budget bill,” said John Breyault, vice president of public policy with the National Consumers League. “The arena deal could, like a zombie, come back in budget negotiations.”