The Virginia state Capitol in Richmond. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
Against the backdrop of federal job cuts and funding freezes, the Virginia legislature passed several budget amendments and bills aimed at improving healthcare, education and housing while killing a proposal to remove the car tax and tabling a bill to permit a sixth locality to build a casino.
And while the 2025 session adjourned on Saturday, House lawmakers say they are not done, launching a committee to explore what the impact of the Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts and funding reductions will be on the commonwealth.
“We are very aware of what’s going on outside the walls of this building, very aware of what’s going on in Northern Virginia,” said Senate Majority Leader Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax.
“Something is gonna have to happen in the next eight months in light of what’s happening on the federal level and responding to a special session is going to be absolutely necessary.”
In the days leading up to the final day of session, lawmakers recognized colleagues Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, and Del. Baxter Ennis, R-Chesapeake, who announced their retirements.
Marshall, 73, who disclosed his decision Wednesday, has served 24 years in the House of Delegates. Ennis, 72, who is completing his second session after winning by nearly two percentage points in November 2023, made his announcement on Friday.
Lawmakers in the Senate also took a moment of silence to recognize police officers Cameron Robert Girvin and Christopher Michael Reese, who were fatally shot Friday in Virginia Beach during a traffic stop.
“As we reflect on a tragic loss, let us take a moment to honor their memory. Let us extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends [and] the entire Virginia Beach Police Department,” said Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, on Saturday.
Here is a look at some of the highlights from the session:
Labor
A widely backed bill to raise Virginia’s minimum wage is now returning to the governor for consideration after he vetoed the measure a year ago.
If enacted, the minimum wage would climb from $12.41 per hour to $13.50 per hour by January 2026, and reach $15 by January 2027. Proponents — including Democrats and various advocates — insist that the increase is necessary to keep pace with rising living costs, while Republicans and other critics warn it could burden businesses.
Casino
House lawmakers were evaluating a contentious proposal to build a casino and entertainment complex in Tysons Corner. However, their decision was tabled earlier this month, effectively dooming the measure for the session. The proposal would have allowed Fairfax County to join other Virginia localities eligible to develop casinos — a move that supporters claimed would generate jobs and boost revenue for both county and the commonwealth. Critics, however, argued that the measure lacked community support and provided only two potential sites for development.
Education
Lawmakers approved a series of bills and budget amendments focused on public education, measures to lift the cap on state-funded support positions for schools and enhance resources for English language learners and students with disabilities.
Although a proposal to delay the implementation of the new accountability system, the School Performance and Support Framework, failed as a stand-alone bill, its postponement was incorporated into the budget.
Critics, including representatives of the Virginia Board of Education (VDOE), argue that the framework lacks transparency, offers insufficient support for struggling schools and does not provide the additional preparation time needed for English language learners before assessments.
In contrast, proponents insist that the framework is crucial for addressing learning loss and strengthening educational programs, rather than relying solely on accreditation for school improvement.
Other bills aimed at supporting students with disabilities, preparing them for life post-high school, and improving food and nutrition in schools and colleges were passed. One key proposal seeks to improve school nutrition by banning artificial food dyes, a move prompted by research linking synthetic dyes to behavioral and developmental issues in children.
The measure is slated to take effect on July 1, 2027.
Additionally, lawmakers supported initiatives to boost the number of career and technical education (CTE) instructors in classrooms. The legislation would direct the Virginia Board of Education to issue provisional licenses to aspiring CTE teachers. Under the new rules, applicants who may not have completed all the requirements could still teach as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalency and an industry-recognized credential, certification, or license in their field.
Transportation
Lawmakers cleared several bills to improve pedestrian safety and curb reckless driving in the commonwealth as well as remove the original name of the Washington Commanders, which is headquartered in Northern Virginia, from license plates.
The process to remove the original name comes after the franchise asked to update its special license plate for team supporters, replacing the controversial “Redskins” name with “Commanders.” Vehicle owners with existing plates would keep them until they expire.
In the final week, lawmakers also passed a proposal aimed at preventing drivers from disregarding pedestrian crossings and stop signs in school zones, highway work zones and high-risk intersections. The legislation would allow law enforcement to place cameras and monitoring systems in such areas to record potential violations.
To improve transparency with monitoring systems, law enforcement is required to notify the public of the program before implementation.
Another bill that passed in the final days allows people convicted of reckless driving and driving over 100 mph, to keep their licenses if they agree to have an intelligent speed assistance program that prevents driving above the speed limit installed in their vehicle.
‘Momnibus’ bills prevailed
A sweeping set of proposals, dubbed the “Virginia Momnibus,” aimed at improving maternal healthcare are headed to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk. Measures include support for midwives and doulas, who have been critical players in maternal healthcare deserts. Following a state report last year that revealed long wait times for Medicaid enrollment of qualified parents-to-be, a bill would create a special enrollment period.
Not formally part of the Democrat-led package, Senate Bill 1279 from Sen. Emily Jordan, R-Suffolk, would establish standards for neonatal-perinatal medicine. It cleared the legislature and is awaiting Youngkin’s signature as many omnibus bills are.
Jordan joined Youngkin at an event in December when he announced support for maternal health proposals and touted work that has already been achieved by the legislature and his office. There, Jordan emotionally shared her own experience with postpartum preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition new mothers can face.
While it’s likely Youngkin could sign much of the maternal health legislation that reaches his desk, a proposal he vetoed last year is up for his consideration again.
Senate Bill 740 by Sens. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, and Chris Head, R-Botetourt, would require unconscious bias training when renewing medical licenses. The patrons say this can help prevent death or other negative outcomes for patients of color. Studies show Black mothers-to-be experience disproportionately negative health outcomes, often due to provider bias. Black women are also more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, a disparity Virginia’s Maternal Mortality Review Team confirmed.
Housing bills
A locally-rooted issue, addressing affordable housing issues — ranging from rental properties to home ownership — emerged in state and federal debate over the past year, but many proposals at the state level failed to gain traction.
Two merged bills from Sens. Glenn Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, and Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, would have stopped large investment firms from buying homes in the state — entities that often overcompete against first-time homebuyers. The bills failed.
Another VanValkenburg bill that failed would have encouraged localities to bolster their housing supply. If it had passed, the law would have required local governments to develop plans for increasing their housing stock over the next few years.
Still, there were some successes, particularly for renters. Senate Bill 812 by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, would give renters a chance to catch up if they aren’t able to pay their rent on the first day of the month. By extending a grace period from five days to 14, people may be more likely to pay their landlords and avoid potential evictions.
Senate Bill 1313 by Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William would allow localities to amend their local zoning ordinances for affordable housing programs.
The measures, if signed by Youngkin, could help as Virginia is forecasted to see the third-highest rent increases in the nation this year.
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