Virginia lawmakers will reconvene in Richmond on Monday to consider Governor Abigail Spanberger’s proposed amendments to the state’s $205 billion two-year spending plan, just days before the fiscal year deadline.
The General Assembly must finalize the budget by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., when Governor Spanberger is required to sign it before state funding authority expires. This urgent session follows a monthslong standoff that concluded last week with a compromise on major tax incentives for the data center industry.
Among the 14 amendments proposed by Governor Spanberger on Friday are provisions to establish Oak Hill, the historic home of former President James Monroe in Loudoun County, as a new state park. Other changes include providing refunds to rural electric cooperatives from greenhouse gas tax proceeds, accelerating Medicaid reimbursement increases for personal care providers, and a one-year delay in enacting a new ban on the open carry of certain assault firearms in public areas.
The Governor also seeks approval for $5 million to launch a new digital services team aimed at addressing technology challenges within state agencies. Additionally, a proposed electricity consumption tax of $0.001595 per kilowatt-hour on data centers marks a significant policy shift, intended to ensure these facilities contribute their fair share to state taxes.