The long stalemate is finally over. Virginia has a biannual budget, with less than 48 hours to spare. Following the General Assembly’s passage of a budget on June 22, the Governor made 14 amendments, all of which were accepted on Monday, June 29. Below are brief summaries of the changes requested the Governor that capped off this year’s lengthy budget fight.
Amendment 1: $680,000 in additional funding to cover the cost of executing referendums on the ballot this year.
Amendment 2: $1,000,000 each year of the biennium to study Virginia’s most legislated fish, Atlantic menhaden. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science in collaboration with Virginia Marine Resources Commission and relevant stakeholders will generate a report to study the (i) the seasonal abundance of Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay; (ii) the movement rates of Atlantic menhaden between the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay; (iii) the impacts of predator demand and consumption of Atlantic menhaden population; (iv) the spatial and temporal patterns of the Atlantic menhaden commercial fishing effort in the Chesapeake Bay; (v) and the possibility of localized depletion of Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. This is intended to be a yearly report due October 1.
Amendment 3: Clarifying language for Medicaid and CHIP participation in cell and gene therapy access model for sickle cell disease treatment.
Amendment 4: Increases consumer and DMAS agency-directed personal care rates by 4% on January 1, 2027, and by 3.9% on January 1, 2028.
Amendment 5: The General Assembly conference report that was sent to the Governor was significantly more aggressive in water usage requirements for data centers. This was done by creating an expedited regulatory process for water usage and by requiring the use of air cooling, closed-loop cooling systems, or newer, more efficient technology. The Governor’s amendments used language to allow a wider range of technologies, provided data centers demonstrate water-use minimization. Both the original language and the final amendments from the Governor include a DEQ plan for retrofitting existing data centers in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area by October 15, 2026.
Amendments 6: Ensure that residential customers, small businesses, and churches in co-op territories receive a 45% remittance of RGGI revenues. The original budget included these entities only if they were in Dominion or Appalachian Power territories.
Amendment 7: Clarifies that the ban on law enforcement using facial coverings does not apply to law enforcement engaged in SWAT activities or working undercover.
Amendment 8: $2 million each year to establish a new grant program to support localities in providing cancer screenings for career firefighters. In addition, this amendment provides one position and associated funding for the agency to hire an additional grants administrator to manage the grant program.
Amendment 9: $5,000,000 to establish a digital service team to assist agency services and provide better oversight of technology vendor contracts.
Amendment 10: Provides for the Commonwealth to acquire James Monroe’s Oak Hill Farm and designate it as a state park.
Amendment 11: Makes technical adjustments to the Data Center Electricity Consumption Tax that was added to the final conference report passed by the General Assembly. These amendments will make it easier to collect the tax and were requested by the SCC.
Amendment 12: Technical changes to ensure localities have enough time to pass a referendum regarding a 1% Sales Tax increase dedicated to funding school construction.
Amendment 13: Reinstitutes the Governor’s original recommendations to the Paid Sick Leave bill, HB5/SB199 (Convirs-Fowler/Boysko). The General Assembly did not approve her amendments during the Reconvene Session in April.
Amendment 14: Delays the effective date of HB1524/SB727 (McGuire/Jones) from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027. These bills seek to prohibit the possession of firearms in public areas.
With the budget complete, the Administration and legislators will begin to look towards the 2027 Session and additional budgetary adjustments. January 13, 2027, is less than 200 days away.
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