| The General Assembly has adjourned Sine Die, having completed its work for the 2025 General Assembly Session. Late in the week saw long-floor sessions as almost 100 bills remained in conference on Friday. On Thursday, February 20, Chairman Luke Torian (D-Prince William) and Chair Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) announced that budget conferees had agreed to a conference report for the amendments to Virginia’s biennium budget. The House and Senate budgets were already in agreement on $1.1 billion in tax relief, primarily through one-time income tax rebates of $200 to individual taxpayers and $400 for couples filing state returns jointly. The conference report also included increases in the standard deduction of $250 for individuals and $500 for couples and raised the refundable portion of the earned income tax credit to eligible working families from 15% to 20%. The budget conference report does not include a repeal of the personal property tax on vehicles, nor does it contain the removal of the tax on tips for restaurant workers, both priorities of the Governor. The budget passed the House, 81-18, and the Senate, 37-3. The budget conference report does not include funding for PFAS testing or monitoring infrastructure. Other funding provided for the Department of Environmental Quality is as follows: $40 million in bond authority for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund for capital projects;A workgroup to study funding allocations of the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF);$2.3 million to expand groundwater research in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area;Provided $431.2 million in bond proceeds for wastewater treatment upgrades. This includes reestablishing $400 million in bond proceeds and allowing for $31.2 million additional bonding authority for projected cost overruns. VBC’s priority legislation was approved by the General Assembly. HB 2517 patroned by Delegate Chris Runion (R-35th District) passed without opposition after a few amendments were made in the Senate. This legislation is designed to accelerate biosolids at Virginia’s public universities. The amendments require notification to DEQ and record keeping by the University doing the research. Delegate David Bulova (D-11th District) sponsored a bill regarding PFAS treatment at the Occoquan Reservoir. The bill passed as a substitute after negotiation between Fairfax Water, the environmental organizations, and the Virginia Manufacturer’s Association. Senator Jeremy McPike (D-29th District) patroned SB 1319, which passed the House and Senate and is headed to the Governor’s desk. It builds on legislation from last year requiring monitoring and reporting by a known PFAS user to a POTW for pretreatment purposes. The Governor now can sign, veto, or suggest amendments to all legislation, including the budget bill. All vetoes or amendments will be considered at the Reconvened Session on April 2. |
