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On Feb. 4, the General Assembly passed its “Crossover Day.” From this point until adjournment, scheduled for Feb. 22, the House of Delegates and Senate will consider only the amended state budget and bills that already passed the other chamber.
The VBA legislative package
I am pleased to report that all continuing bills in the VBA’s legislative package passed their chambers of origin without significant amendments. They remain well on their way to full passage by lawmakers. The only minor exceptions are two bills withdrawn at the request of the respective sections to allow for further stakeholder engagement.
Follow the progress of the VBA’s 2025 legislative package online at vba.org/2025-bills.
House and Senate amended state budgets
On Feb. 2, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee each released versions of an amended state budget, and both chambers passed their respective budgets Feb. 6. The two budgets look quite different from each other, and extremely different from the budget Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed in December.
Both chambers propose extending and increasing the standard deduction for income taxes and providing a one-time rebate to taxpayers, while neither adjusts corporate taxes. Both chambers also struck the governor's proposals to exempt tips from income tax and to create a car tax rebate.
The Senate included language authorizing what are often known as “skill games,” while the House included language to create a consolidated agency to oversee gambling.
Both chambers included funding for a bonus for teachers, and each chamber is taking steps to prepare for anticipated federal funding cuts.
It remains to be seen how the chambers will resolve the budget differences in the coming days, and it is too early to say whether Youngkin will sign whatever compromise they reach.
On the legislative front
Democrats continue to advance a number of priorities that may ultimately face a gubernatorial veto. These include bills to create a retail market for marijuana sales, address gun control, and repeal the prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees.
The Democratic-controlled chambers also have advanced three constitutional amendments: to protect abortion rights, restore voting rights for felons, and put marriage equality in the Virginia Constitution. These measures would have to pass again next year — after House of Delegates elections — to be placed on the ballot as referendums in 2026.
In the weeks ahead we will continue to advocate for the VBA’s priorities and work to oppose or amend measures that could harm the practice of law or limit access to justice.
Your legislative counsel and team appreciate your continued engagement and trust.
Sincerely,
Eric Link
Senior Attorney and Director of Government Affairs, Hunton Andrews Kurth
VBA Legislative Counsel
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