Virginia
- Ballooning Entitlements: Virginia Budget Adds $2.4 Billion to Medicaid as Taxpayers Foot the Bill
Virginia taxpayers are bracing for a massive financial hit as the upcoming fiscal year 2026 through 2028 biennium budget includes a staggering net $2.4 billion General Fund investment to fully fund Medicaid and CHIP forecasts. This massive spending increase highlights a rapidly expanding welfare state that continues to consume an ever-growing portion of the state’s
- Virginia’s $400 Million Blank Check: How Flexible School Funding Threatens Fiscal Responsibility
Virginia lawmakers have allocated a staggering $400.4 million from the general fund as a one-time flexible payment to local school divisions across the commonwealth. This massive expenditure, tucked into the latest state budget amendments, comes with the promise of addressing local educational needs without requiring a direct financial match from localities.
- Historic Virginia Education Budget Raises Red Flags for Fiscal Conservatives and Taxpayers
The newly proposed Virginia state budget introduces a staggering financial commitment to public education, raising serious concerns for fiscal conservatives focused on protecting taxpayer dollars. Lawmakers have approved a sweeping plan that includes a 4% salary increase for teachers and school support staff in both fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
- Taxpayers on the Hook for Massive $115.3 Million James Madison University Expansion
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive financial burden as the upcoming FY2027 state budget includes a staggering $115.3 million allocation for a single building expansion at James Madison University. This nine-figure appropriation from the General Fund is earmarked for the College of Health and Behavioral Studies, representing a significant capital expenditure during a time of
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Bankroll Millions for New Recreational Marijuana Bureaucracy
Virginia taxpayers are now heavily burdened with millions of dollars in new spending to establish a recreational marijuana marketplace under the newly approved state budget for the 2026-2028 biennium. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently announced a highly controversial compromise to launch recreational retail sales by July 1, 2027, ending years of legislative gridlock.
- Virginia Allocates $116.3 Million for School Bonuses Amid Growing Budget Concerns
The state of Virginia is preparing to distribute a staggering $116.3 million in taxpayer funds to cover a one-time bonus payment for public school employees. This substantial financial commitment targets funded Standards of Quality instructional and support positions across the commonwealth.
- Virginia’s $117.6 Million Education Bonus Highlights Concerns Over State Spending and Local Tax Burdens
Virginia lawmakers are once again reaching into the general fund, this time allocating $117.6 million for a one-time bonus program aimed at public education employees. The amendment specifically provides a flat $1,500 bonus for state-recognized instructional and support positions across the commonwealth.
- Virginia Banks $585.5 Million Surplus for Fiscal Year 2027 Amid Calls for Taxpayer Relief
The state of Virginia recently announced a staggering $936.3 million general fund surplus for Fiscal Year 2026, driven by an aggressive 6.7 percent growth in state revenues. This massive influx represents a $2.09 billion increase over the previous fiscal year, highlighting just how heavily state government is taxing its citizens.
- Virginia Budget Directs $28.9 Million to At-Risk Programs Amid Fiscal Concerns
The State of Virginia has finalized its budget for the FY2027-FY2028 Biennium, drawing significant attention from fiscal conservatives concerned about escalating government expenditures. Lawmakers have approved a massive $28.9 million allocation specifically targeted for at-risk student programs within the K-12 public education system.
- Virginia Taxpayers Shoulder the Burden as Lawmakers Push Costly State Employee Pay Raises
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive financial commitment following the approval of a revised state budget that significantly expands government spending. Lawmakers recently finalized a spending plan that guarantees a 3.5 percent annual pay raise for state employees across the board for both fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
- Virginia Budget Conceals Millions in Spending Under Generic Program Names
Virginia taxpayers are facing massive state expenditures hidden behind vaguely named programs that make financial oversight nearly impossible. The recent state budget allocates a staggering $72.5 million over the biennium for community violence intervention programs.
- Taxpayer Dollars on the Quad: Assessing the Massive Budget Allocations for James Madison University
As the Virginia state budget continues to expand, taxpayers are left footing the bill for massive university infrastructure projects that warrant intense financial scrutiny. James Madison University recently secured a staggering $30.5 million specifically allocated for the renovation and furnishing of Johnston Hall on the historic Quad.
- Virginia’s $148.4 Million Special Education Budget Hike Raises Fiscal Alarms
Virginia lawmakers are currently debating a massive $148.4 million allocation drawn directly from the General Fund for the 2026-2028 biennium. This staggering sum is specifically earmarked for special education students under the Direct Aid to Public Education umbrella.
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Foot $17.6 Million Bill for Rapid Rehousing
The state of Virginia is preparing to shoulder a massive financial burden as federal funding for housing programs dries up, forcing local taxpayers to foot the bill. Lawmakers are currently pushing a massive $17.6 million allocation for rapid rehousing efforts in the upcoming biennial budget to cover the sudden gaps left by Washington.
- Virginia’s Forced RGGI Reentry: A Hidden Tax Masked as Utility Relief
Virginia taxpayers and utility customers are bracing for the fiscal impacts of the state’s forced reentry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative under the upcoming state budget. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently outlined a legislative plan to return a portion of the revenue collected from this controversial carbon cap-and-trade program directly to everyday consumers.
- Virginia Taxpayers Face Another Massive Bill as State Approves $117.6 Million for School Bonuses
The Virginia state budget continues to expand at a rapid pace, placing an ever-growing financial burden on hardworking taxpayers across the commonwealth. Lawmakers have recently allocated a staggering $117.6 million to cover the state’s share of a $1,500 per position bonus for school divisions to deploy in fiscal year 2027.
- Virginia Lawmakers Push Historic Spending Increases Amid Concerns Over Budget Bloat and Taxpayer Burden
The recently unveiled Virginia budget for the FY2027-FY2028 biennium introduces unprecedented levels of state spending that have raised immediate alarms regarding fiscal restraint. At the center of this financial blueprint is a sweeping compensation package that mandates four percent annual raises for teachers and school support staff in each year of the biennium.
- Runaway Education Spending: The $98.4 Million Question in Virginia’s Budget
The Virginia state budget now includes a massive $98.4 million one-time supplement to the At-Risk Add-On program for public school divisions across the Commonwealth. This massive injection of taxpayer dollars is earmarked for local operating or capital needs while a legislative subcommittee continues to evaluate ongoing funding requirements.
- Virginia Pension Reforms Save Taxpayers $171.4 Million Amid Calls for Fiscal Restraint
The Virginia Retirement System recently reported a notable improvement in the aggregate funded status for local political subdivision pension plans, reaching ninety-two percent for the upcoming fiscal cycle. This financial milestone leaves an eight percent unfunded pension liability that continues to require stable employer contribution rates heading into fiscal year 2027.
- Historic $2 Billion Education Spending Sparks Conservative Concerns Over Government Bloat in Virginia
The newly proposed Virginia biennium budget for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 introduces a staggering level of state spending that has raised significant concerns among fiscal conservatives. At the center of this financial blueprint is a historic two billion dollar allocation in new public education funding, marking the largest single investment of its kind in
- Virginia Budget Hides $400.4 Million in Flexible Slush Funds for Local Schools
The Virginia budget for fiscal year 2027 contains a massive expenditure that should raise immediate red flags for fiscal conservatives and taxpayers across the commonwealth. Lawmakers have approved a staggering $400.4 million allocation designated merely as a one-time flexible payment supplement for local school divisions.
- Virginia’s $1.4 Billion Education Budget Surge Sparks Conservative Concerns Over Runaway Spending
Lawmakers in Virginia have recently finalized a state budget that includes a massive $1.4 billion overall increase in K-12 public education funding. This unprecedented surge in spending raises serious concerns among fiscal conservatives who advocate for reducing the budget and saving taxpayer money.
- Fiscal Restraint Needed as Virginia Allocates $30 Million for Local Business Site Development
As Virginia lawmakers finalize the fiscal year 2027 budget, a renewed focus on economic development spending has sparked discussions among fiscal conservatives regarding the proper use of taxpayer dollars. The budget includes an additional $10 million General Fund allocation for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, bringing the total first-year funding to $30 million.
- Virginia’s $1.94 Billion Data Center Giveaway: A Colossal Failure of Fiscal Restraint
The recently finalized Virginia budget reveals a staggering fiscal reality for hardworking taxpayers who are currently subsidizing the booming data center industry. While lawmakers publicly tout a newly implemented electricity consumption tax, they quietly retained a massive retail sales and use tax exemption for these technology giants through the year 2035.
- Virginia’s New Data Center Tax: A Billion-Dollar Excuse for Government Expansion
Virginia lawmakers have officially adopted a first-of-its-kind statewide energy consumption tax on data centers, sparking concerns among fiscal conservatives about government overreach and unchecked spending. The new levy imposes a $0.011 per kilowatt-hour charge on all electricity consumed by these facilities, which is projected to generate up to $600 million annually for state coffers.
- Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Pushes Record $17.21 Million Budget for Fiscal Year 2027
The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation recently announced a record allocation of $17.21 million for its Fiscal Year 2027 grant round. This unprecedented level of funding represents a massive expansion of a state program designed to purchase development rights and place permanent conservation easements on private property.
- Virginia’s $770 Million Teacher Pay Hike Sparks Concerns Over Runaway State Spending
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive financial burden as the state government commits an astonishing $770 million to fund a four percent salary increase for teachers in both fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This sweeping budget allocation doubles the original proposal made by the governor, raising serious concerns among fiscal conservatives about sustainable spending and
- Virginia’s $148.4 Million Special Education Expansion Sparks Calls for Stricter Fiscal Oversight
The upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget for the Commonwealth of Virginia includes a staggering $148.4 million allocation to more than double the Special Education Add-On. This massive financial injection expands per-pupil funding for special education students, representing a significant priority for state legislators.
- Virginia Budget Bloat: Governor Abigail Spanberger Pushes Record Spending and New Taxes
Governor Abigail Spanberger has finalized a state budget for the 2026-2028 biennium that introduces a staggering two billion dollars in new public education spending. This massive financial commitment comes directly on the heels of a historic two point six billion dollar educational funding increase passed during the previous budget cycle.
- Virginia’s $207 Billion Budget Invents New Data Center Tax While Ignoring Taxpayer Burdens
The Virginia state government has finalized a staggering $207 billion two-year budget that introduces a first-of-its-kind energy consumption tax on the data center industry. This new fiscal scheme levies a $0.011 per kilowatt-hour tax on all electricity consumed monthly by data centers, generating up to $600 million annually for the state.
- Virginia’s Return to RGGI: A Costly Carbon Tax Disguised as Utility Relief
The recent passage of the Virginia state budget marks a controversial return to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a move that critics argue will unnecessarily burden hardworking taxpayers. Governor Abigail Spanberger has championed this re-entry, despite clear evidence that the program functions as a hidden carbon tax on everyday utility consumers.
- Virginia Lawmakers Quietly Extend Costly Refundable Tax Credit Through 2030
The Virginia state budget continues to expand at an unsustainable pace as lawmakers quietly extend a costly welfare provision disguised as a tax break. Through the third enactment clause of the 2026 Appropriation Act, the state government has officially extended the refundable Virginia Earned Income Tax Credit at twenty percent of the federal level through
- Virginia Democrats Allocate $1 Billion in State Funds to Replace Federal Entitlement Spending
The state of Virginia is fundamentally shifting its fiscal strategy by allocating a massive $1 billion contingency reserve to backfill reductions in federal entitlement programs. This aggressive maneuver marks a stark departure from the recent era of multi-billion-dollar surpluses and broad tax cuts previously enjoyed by Commonwealth residents.
- Virginia Budget Explodes with $17.6 Million Handout for Universal School Breakfasts
Virginia taxpayers are currently facing a significant financial burden as the state budget allocates a staggering $17.6 million to increase school breakfast reimbursement rates. This massive funding initiative, slated for the upcoming FY2027-FY2028 fiscal biennium, aims to push more school divisions into the controversial federal Community Eligibility Provision.
- Hidden Mandates: Virginia Taxpayers Foot the Bill for $11.1 Million in Concealed Central Appropriations
A staggering $11,125,212 allocation tucked away in the Virginia state budget under the vague category of “Central Appropriations” is raising serious alarm bells among fiscal conservatives. The massive expenditure, slated exclusively for the 2028 fiscal year, is explicitly designated to fund the controversial provisions of House Bill 5 from the 2026 General Assembly.
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Bail Out Federal Shortfalls in $17.6 Million Housing Spending Spree
The Virginia General Assembly recently advanced a state budget that includes a controversial $17.6 million allocation to backfill federal funding cuts for rapid rehousing programs. This multi-million dollar expenditure represents a significant shift in financial responsibility, transferring the burden of federal shortfalls directly onto the shoulders of Virginia taxpayers.
- Virginia Enacts Historic $2 Billion Education Budget Amid Taxpayer Concerns
Virginia has officially enacted a new state budget that includes a historic and unprecedented $2 billion investment in public education funding. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently announced the enactment of this massive spending plan, which marks the largest single allocation toward K-12 schools in the history of the Commonwealth.
- Virginia Lawmakers Push Costly Bureaucratic Expansion with New Marijuana Marketplace Budget
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive bureaucratic expansion as state lawmakers push forward with a costly framework for a legal recreational marijuana marketplace. The newly amended budget reveals a staggering funding increase to establish retail sales by July 2027, raising serious concerns about government waste, fraud, and overspending.
- Virginia FY2027 Budget Pushes $25 Million into New Housing Bureaucracy
As Virginia lawmakers finalize the fiscal year 2027 budget, taxpayers are facing the financial burden of yet another newly created government entity. The proposed budget allocates a staggering $25 million to capitalize the brand-new Virginia Housing Revolving Loan Fund.
- Virginia House Bill HB7 Pushes for Law Enforcement Accountability Through Facial Covering Restrictions
RICHMOND, Va. – In the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia House of Delegates, House Bill 7 emerged as a targeted measure to enhance transparency and accountability among law enforcement officers by imposing restrictions on the wearing of facial coverings during official duties. Introduced by Delegate Michael Jones as the chief patron, the legislation addresses
- Localities Will Have Sweeping Powers Over Affordable Housing Sales
RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia House of Delegates has taken significant steps toward empowering local governments with unprecedented authority over the sale of affordable housing properties through HB4, a bill introduced by Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker. Prefiled on November 17, 2025, and offered on January 14, 2026, the legislation amends the Code of Virginia by adding
- Virginia House Bill 314, Supporting Off-Grid Homeowners’ Rights Under Building Code
In a procedural move that keeps momentum alive for rural Virginians embracing self-sufficient lifestyles, House Bill 314 has been continued to the 2027 legislative session by the House General Laws Committee.
- Youngkin rules out Senate bid but leaves door open to presidential run
Gov. In an interview on Tuesday, Glenn Youngkin has ruled out running to become the next U.S.
- The Enhanced Trifecta gives Democrats full control of energy laws
With the return of the trifecta of political success that Democrats now bolstered by a 64-36 House of Delegates majority – the decision on how to address Virginia’s energy challenges is entirely in their own hands.
- Fairfax Schools sued under Title IX for restroom policy and compelled speech
Fairfax County Public Schools faces a lawsuit over policies which allegedly force women students to share bathrooms and punishment students who refuse to use gender affirming pronouns.
- Jason Miyares asks Virginia prosecutor to quit for failing to prosecute “heinous” crimes
Jason Miyares (a Republican from Virginia) called for Fairfax County Commonwealth attorney Steve Descano’s resignation, accusing the office of numerous cases and giving out lenient deals.
- The Four Horsemen of the Western Apocalypse: What They Mean for Virginia
Notable Hoover Institute scholar Dr. Victor Davis Hanson recently coined the term the “Four Horsemen of the Western Apocalypse.” Dr.
- Virginia’s Clean Energy Act: High Costs, Low Benefits
Abigail Spanberger and the Democrat majority in the Virginia General Assembly have gone all-in on the Virginia Clean Energy Act (VCEA)—a law that hikes energy costs, weakens grid reliability, and delivers no measurable reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. The VCEA calls for 13,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power to reach its 2045 clean energy
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Delivers Address on Fiscal Year 2025 to Joint Money Committee
For Immediate Release: August 14, 2025 Contacts: Office of the Governor:Peter Finocchio, Peter.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Virginia Veterans Network Tops 30,000 Registered Users
Free online hub now serving more than 30,000 veterans, service members, and families RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN), a resource built by veterans for veterans, has reached 30,000 registered users across the Commonwealth.