With the Virginia budget deadline of June 30 looming, and with the General Assembly scheduled to return on Monday (June 29), Gov. Abigail Spanberger this evening has issued 14 budget amendments. According to Gov. Spanberger:
On June 22, 2026, the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia sent me a budget that addresses our shared priorities to lower costs for Virginians, invest in our schools and communities, and address the devastating impacts of the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ To further deliver for Virginia families, I am returning this budget with a request that the attached 14 amendments be adopted.
These amendments include technical changes to align definitions in recently enacted leave programs; clarify language regarding identification of undercover law enforcement officers; provide additional time to avoid creating a dangerous loophole in gun violence prevention laws; and make explicit that all customers in the residential, Small General Service, and church classes — including customers served by rural electric cooperatives — are eligible for a direct credit from the RGGI program.
I am proposing an amendment to provide lifesaving cancer screenings for Virginia’s firefighters. I am proposing an amendment to increase salaries for home care workers earlier than the enrolled budget’s 2028 date. I also put forth amendments to authorize a new state park in Loudoun County, provide further funding to the Department of Elections, and support a scientifically sound research effort of the Atlantic menhaden population.
Finally, to enhance state agency operations and provide more user-friendly services for Virginians, the Commonwealth must fix persistent, long-unresolved technical challenges and address systemic barriers to service delivery. As such, I am proposing start-up funding for a digital services team that will provide this support to our state agencies.
The net result of the changes in spending I am recommending would decrease the unappropriated balance from $179 million to $117 million.
Thank you for your partnership as we work to build a stronger future for Virginia’s families, and I ask that you adopt these final modifications.
A few specific highlights include:
- “Amendment 2: Support Atlantic Menhaden Research…Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for Atlantic menhaden research and reporting. This funding shall be used for Atlantic menhaden research necessary to inform a scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful Chesapeake Bay harvest cap.”
- “Amendment 5: Water supply planning…In a Cooling Water Scarcity Area, prior to July 1, 2032, a data center, as that term is defined in subdivision A 43 of § 58.1-3506, Code of Virginia, shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that it has minimized the use of any type of water for cooling purposes and demonstrated the use of best available water-efficient technologies, including air cooling, closed-loop systems, recycled water, stormwater reuse, non-potable reclaimed water, or other technologies approved by the department. A data center shall only use direct evaporative cooling in conjunction with one of the department’s approved primary technologies. In the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area, a new data center that submits a complete application for a Department of Environmental Quality air permit after January 1, 2027, shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that it has minimized the use of any type of water for cooling purposes and demonstrate the use of best available water-efficient technologies, including air cooling, closed-loop systems, recycled water, stormwater reuse, non-potable reclaimed water, or other technologies approved by the department. A data center shall only use direct evaporative cooling in conjunction with one of the department’s approved primary technologies. The department, by October 15, 2026, shall conduct a study and provide a plan on the retrofitting of existing data centers in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area to use air cooling systems, 100 percent recycled water and/or stormwater for cooling, or use a closed loop system.”
- “Amendment 6: Expand RGGI utility credit to Virginia Cooperatives and clarify credit eligibility…”
- “Amendment 7: Facial Coverings, Law Enforcement…Notwithstanding § 19.2-83.6:1 of the Code of Virginia, any law enforcement officer engaged in (i) special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams or other specialized tactical teams or units while engaged in the performance of official SWAT team duties, or (ii) undercover, drug, gang, executive protection, or surveillance units where protection of such law-enforcement officers’ identities is necessary, is exempt from subsection D of § 19.2-83.6:1 of the Code of Virginia.”
- “Amendment 13: Paid Sick Leave
- “Amendment 14: Possession of firearms in public areas, delayed enactment…That notwithstanding any other provision of law, Chapters 1025 and 1101 of the Acts of Assembly of 2026 shall become effective on July 1, 2027.”
*********************************************
