“Though the House’s new Democratic lawmakers have made their presence felt in other ways both big and small, just 27 of the 202 bills they filed are still alive after the House finished work on its own legislation at the crossover deadline, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis of bills with freshmen listed as the chief patron. The analysis did not include resolutions, which convey the will of the body but do not carry the force of law.”

“Democrats flipped 15 GOP-held House seats last year and swept all three statewide races, a result widely interpreted as a repudiation of President Donald Trump.”

“A random tiebreaker secured a 51-49 GOP majority, setting up a session in which ascendant Democrats have the energy, but Republicans still have the numbers.”