The General Assembly returned to Richmond yesterday, May 13th, for a one-day special session to address and vote on the outstanding biennial budget. The budget process was contentious throughout the legislative and reconvened session. Ultimately, Governor Youngkin and budget conferees were able to come to a consensus on a budget deal that is said to be “a win for citizens of the Commonwealth.” The budget passed both houses with strong bipartisan votes – in the House on a vote of 94-6 and the Senate on a vote of 39-1.
The budget passed both houses with strong bipartisan votes – in the House on a vote of 94-6 and the Senate on a vote of 39-1.
The new biennial budget included a handful of initiatives that both sides of the aisle were supportive of including a 3% raise each year for teachers, state employees, and state-supported local employees; an increase in state funding of K-12 schools by more than $2 billion; and more than $200 million to make higher education more affordable by tampering tuition increases. Additionally, the deal provided approximately $145 million for the Washington Metropolitan Transit system, toll relief in Hampton Roads, and $175 million for improvements to Interstate 81. Throughout negotiations, Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was a highlighted point of conversation, but the General Assembly ultimately decided to keep the status quo and let ongoing legal action over Virginia’s participation in RGGI play itself out.
While budget negotiations have wrapped up, one issue still remains to be dealt with by the General Assembly: skill games. Last month, the House and Senate reviewed the Governor’s amendments to the skill games legislation, patroned in the Senate by Senator Aaron Rouse during the regular session. The lengthy amendments appeared to limit the operation of skill games near schools, daycare centers, and casinos which would consequently limit large portions of the state hoping to operate skill games. While there was no movement on the matter yesterday, the Governor and several legislators noted that they will continue in their efforts to ensure slot machines are taxed and regulated while allowing store owners to continue operating and profiting off them. Procedurally, both chambers went into recess at the conclusion of the day, rather than adjourning, to allow for the possibility of taking up additional legislation.
One issue still remains to be dealt with by the General Assembly: skill games.
The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senator Mamie Locke, convened yesterday prior to the start of the special session. The conversation around legislator bill limits has been a much-anticipated subject. There was a great deal of discussion around exemptions to the bill limits for legislation that is developed as a recommendation of commissions, agency/department legislative requests, and any Governor’s priorities or initiatives they may look to introduce. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was voted and approved that members of the Senate would have a limit of 20 bills, regardless of the entity that requested the legislation. The House of Delegates traditionally has a bill limit of 15 during the “short” session, which is 45 days in odd-numbered years. We will be sure to keep you apprised of conversations surrounding this as we navigate through the summer months and approach the 2025 legislative session.
