Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced that Governor Spanberger's declaration of a state of emergency due to prolonged, severe drought has triggered Virginia's anti-price gouging statutes, making it unlawful to charge unconscionable prices for necessary goods and services. A price is unconscionable if it grossly exceeds the price charged during the ten days immediately prior to the emergency. No entity was charged or fined; the release is a consumer advisory explaining how to report suspected price gouging to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section.
No remedies were imposed on any entity. The release announces that consumer protections under the Anti-Price Gouging Act are now active statewide and directs consumers to report suspected price gouging to the OAG Consumer Protection Section, except gasoline and motor fuel price complaints, which are handled by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Although this action concerns consumer protection rather than privacy, it signals that Virginia's Anti-Price Gouging Act is actively enforceable through the Virginia Consumer Protection Act whenever a state of emergency is declared. In-house teams at companies selling essential goods and services (grocery, fuel, lodging, building supplies, agribusiness) should review customer-facing pricing terms, supply and vendor agreements, and any contracts containing automatic price escalation, surge pricing, or emergency surcharge clauses to confirm they cannot produce prices that grossly exceed the ten-day pre-emergency baseline during a declared emergency. Force majeure clauses should be checked to ensure they do not authorize price increases during emergencies, and supply agreements should include representations that pricing during declared emergencies complies with applicable state anti-price gouging laws. Companies with Virginia operations should also ensure consumer complaint-handling procedures route pricing complaints to legal for assessment.
Entity
No respondent entity (consumer advisory announcement)
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3117-attorney-general-jones-announces-price-gouging-protections-in-effect-amid-prolonged-and-severe-drought-conditions-across-the-commonwealth
Virginia Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/
"Attorney General Jones Announces Price Gouging Protections in Effect Amid Prolonged and Severe Drought Conditions Across the Commonwealth"
"September 17, 2026"
"Governor Spanberger's declaration of a state of emergency triggered Virginia's anti-price gouging statutes."
"unconscionable prices" for "necessary goods and services" following a declared state of emergency"
"whether the post-disaster price grossly exceeds the price charged for the same good or services during the ten days"
"Violations of Virginia's Anti-Price Gouging Act are enforceable by the Office of the Attorney General through the Virginia Consumer Protection Act."
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to immigration court without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law, harms asylum applicants, and bypasses notice-and-comment requirements; the release describes a comment letter, not a privacy enforcement action or monetary penalty.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined 22 attorneys general in a comment letter opposing a proposed USCIS rule that would impose a $103,265 tax on certain H-1B petitions. The coalition urged USCIS to withdraw the proposal, arguing it exceeds the agency’s authority, harms state staffing, and violates rulemaking requirements.
A federal judge permanently blocked the Trump administration from penalizing states over SNAP administration and struck down guidance restricting food assistance for certain lawful permanent residents. The release does not state the date of the court’s ruling, so the event date uses the publication date as a proxy.
Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing a comment letter opposing a proposed CMS rule that the coalition says oversteps federal law, could put Medicaid funding at risk, and interfere with state regulation of health insurance. The coalition urges CMS to withdraw or significantly revise the proposed rule.
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$694.0M
Virginia and 40 other state attorneys general settled with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance Corporation (CAC) for $694 million in cash restitution and debt relief. The settlement resolves allegations that CAC originated loans it knew or should have known consumers could not afford, and that it encouraged and failed to prevent dealers from unlawfully 'packing' auto-loan contracts with unwanted Vehicle Service Contracts and GAP products. The Consent Judgment was filed September 17, 2026, with the City of Richmond Circuit Court.