RICHMOND, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Virginia Senate has passed a measure that establishes collective bargaining rights for public employees.

The bill passed on a party-line 21-19 vote but not before Harrisonburg Senator Mark Obenshain argued that this is going to cost local governments, meaning local taxpayers, some 400 million dollars.

“I hear that if we don’t have the money, we don’t have to do it. Well, the way it’s going to work out in reality is if we don’t have the money we’re going to raise taxes so we can do it. This is going to be a budget buster,” Obenshain said.

The measure, which would take effect in 2028 if signed into law, now heads over to the House.