News
The 2025 General Assembly session adjourned on February 22nd, and reconvened on April 2nd to consider the Governor's budget amendments, bill amendments and vetoes. The Governor proposed more than 200 amendments to the budget which the Senate and House generally rejected. The compromise budget included over $1 billion in tax rebates for tax filers and over $200 million for removing a limit on how much of schools' non-teaching staff (such as bus drivers, custodians, nurses, etc.), will be supported by the state. This is known as the support cap and was one of the recommendations coming out of the 2023 JLARC Report “Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula.” Final budget action which occurred on May 2nd included the Governor removing all capital projects for institutions of higher education and funding that would benefit affordable housing, healthcare and the environment. Specifically, vetoes included:
- $15 million grant program for first-time homebuyers
- $20 million pilot program for rental assistance
- $1 million for pilot program in Richmond and Roanoke for people with dementia or geriatric conditions that would otherwise cause them to be admitted to a state hospital
The budget includes funding for flood and disaster relief, appropriations to fully fund the state's portion of Medicaid, $12 million for maternal health, and approximately $834 million for public education which includes a bonus for educators and state employees.
There is an election in Virginia every year and 2025 is no exception. All 100 seats are up in the House of Delegates and the three statewide offices are up: Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Please exercise your right to vote this year and vote for your candidate of choice. Early voting and all information regarding voting can be found here: https://www.elections.virginia.gov
There are many new laws taking effect on July 1, 2025. To find information on these new laws, go to: https://legiscan.com/VA/legislation/2025
As always, I value the input of citizens of the 23rd District. Please contact me with your thoughts on any issues before the General Assembly or in the District. Together we can move Virginia forward and address any challenges facing our community. Stay safe.