Virginia Lawmakers Approve 2-Year Spending Plan, Avoiding Partial Government Shutdown
Lawmakers approved 14 amendments and a $207 billion spending plan that adds data center taxes, pay raises and energy credits.
- On Monday, the Virginia General Assembly approved all 14 amendments proposed by Governor Abigail Spanberger to the state's two-year budget, finalizing the $207 billion spending plan before the July 1 fiscal deadline.
- The final agreement concluded a months-long standoff among Democrats over data center tax incentives, preserving existing sales tax exemptions while establishing a new energy consumption tax on the industry.
- Key provisions include 4% raises for teachers, 3.5% increases for state employees, and a new grant program providing $2 million annually for career firefighter cancer screenings across the Commonwealth.
- Governor Spanberger stated the budget charts a path toward a "more secure, and more affordable future," while amendments reduce the state's unappropriated balance from $179 million to $117 million.
- Lawmakers delayed the effective date for new firearms-in-public-areas restrictions until July 1, 2027, after identifying "unintended consequences" in the original legislation, while also establishing a $5 million state digital services team.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Gov. Spanberger signs 18 energy bills, including legislation allowing Virginia to rejoin RGGI
RICHMOND, Va. Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed 18 new energy bills Tuesday, 15 of which were bipartisan. Spanberger says the bills will address the high cost of energy for families and meet the commonwealth's long-term energy needs.Among the bills signed is legislation that allows Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI. Virginia will rejoin RGGI on Wednesday.Spanberger says rejoining RGGI saves customers money by …
‘The Battle Line Has Been Drawn’ Around Virginia’s Data Centers
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger walked a tightrope on the data centers issue during her gubernatorial campaign. Steve Helber/APFor decades, the world’s densest cluster of data centers has grown in Northern Virginia with little scrutiny and generous incentives.That changed this spring, when state lawmakers seriously considered taking away a key tax exemption that saved the state’s data centers $1.9 billion last year and doesn’t expire until 20…
A new tax on data centers that will generate $1.2 billion in two years, annual salary increases of 4% for teachers and the start of recreational marijuana sales in July 2027.The Virginia General Assembly approved on Monday June 29 the $207 billion biennial budget after months of disputes focused on taxing an industry that dominates the north of the state.The agreement came just before the deadline of Tuesday, June 30, when the current budget exp…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
