RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With the 2025 General Assembly Session in its final hours, the Democratic-controlled House of Delegates and Senate have reached an agreement on how to amend the state’s current two-year budget.
“We came here with a priority,” said Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), who also serves as Chair of the Senate Finance and Approparionts Committee. “The priority was, make sure that hardworking Virginians understand we heard them. We understand their pain. We know what their kitchen table issues are.”
As part of their proposed amendments, Virginians who filed their taxes individually in 2024 would receive a $200 tax rebate, while those who filed jointly would get $400.
“We understand that people are hurting,” House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) said. “The cost of goods and services are high. Donald Trump came in saying he was going to lower the price of things, and inflation continues to go up. We are going to address that by giving money back and putting money back in people’s pockets.”
Lawmakers also included a $1,000 bonus for teachers and a 1.5% bonus for state employees on top of the 3% raises they are already slated to receive next fiscal year.
“We realize that education is the priority for us if we are going to create a world-class system where all of our kids can compete on a global scale,” said Lucas.
The budget is also getting some praise from Republicans, who acknowledge while it doesn’t include the types of permanent tax relief they had hoped for, the budget amendments are a step in the right direction.
“It’s not the budget that I would have written, but we did some positive things,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) told 8News. “There is tax relief for Virginians who pay taxes, over a billion dollars coming back to them. That is very positive. Some things we didn’t get that we are going to continue to fight for.”
One thing that was not included in the budget amendments is language to legalize so-called skill games. Budget conferees from both parties said that the issue just wasn’t a top priority.
Lawmakers are expected to pass the bills containing the proposed budget amendments on Saturday.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin will then have until March 24 to either sign it into law, veto it, amend it for lawmakers to consider, or let it become law without his signature.
