Mattress fee blocked in Spanberger veto round

(The Center Square) – A proposed mattress fee is off the table after Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed a slate of bills in her first year, including measures tied to criminal enforcement, vehicle sales and gaming regulation.

Spanberger has vetoed eight bills so far, fewer than recent governors. Former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued 33 vetoes in his first year, while former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam issued 20.

The vetoes touch on a range of issues, from how criminal cases are handled to whether new costs are passed on to consumers.

One of those vetoes covered House Bill 86, which would have created a mattress recycling program funded through a new fee on purchases. In her veto message, Spanberger said the plan would require retailers to participate in a single system and could increase costs, calling the structure “unworkable for the commonwealth.”

Another veto targets House Bill 1288 and Senate Bill 17, which would have raised the threshold for selling a vehicle without a court order from $12,50...