Last Tuesday marked crossover, the point in session when bills passed in one chamber move to the other for consideration. With session now halfway through, my day-to-day is increasingly focused on budget work. In even-numbered years, Virginia adopts a two-year (biennial) budget; in odd-numbered years, we pass amendments to that budget. Part of this process is finalizing the “caboose” bill to fund the last six months of the current fiscal year. As I’ve gained seniority in the legislative process, I’ve become more deeply involved in budget work.
Seniority has bestowed on me three primary responsibilities in this area. As the second-most senior member of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, I work closely with the chair to determine what priorities can move forward and what may have to wait. Secondly, serving on the Resource Subcommittee I am tasked with balancing strong ideas alongside responsible budgeting to determine what’s feasible in the current cycle. As chair of the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee, I oversee the largest part of the state budget, which includes significant federal pass-through funding. That last responsibility is particularly significant right now because this portion of the budget is heavily impacted by federal actions affecting programs like Medicaid and SNAP. We are also dealing with the thorny issue of data centers.
Tax Credits & Data Centers
Over the last 20 years, data centers have contributed significantly to economic growth in Virginia, and Virginia has more data centers than anywhere else in the world. In part, that is because much of the infrastructure to support the internet is here, but it’s also because in 2008, we passed a tax incentive, which exempts sales tax from the purchase of equipment for data centers.
I’ve carried a bill, like one I rolled out last session, that stated if these tax exemptions are extended, we must make sure the data centers are operating as efficiently as possible. It was modeled after recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC). The legislation failed to pass in the Senate both years as there is not a uniform view that the tax credit needs to be extended at any cost. This session the House passed a bill similar to mine to extend the credit but, would require the data centers to clean up their act. I expect these issues will be addressed in the budget.
Oyster Day at the Capital
This week, General Assembly members and staff, including my legislative assistant Meredith Sigler, were treated to fresh oysters courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to celebrate their work in protecting the Chesapeake’s oyster population.
Though I didn’t make an attempt at the Foundation’s annual oyster eating contest, which was won by Delegate Phil Hernandez, I did particularly enjoy the Eastern Shore oysters served at the event. It was wonderful to appreciate the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s efforts in advocating for and preserving Virginia’s valuable marine life.
Job Creation, Compensation, & Conservation
Beyond the budget work, I wanted to highlight a few of the bills I introduced that have crossed over to the House that could have a positive impact for folks across the Commonwealth.
I’m carrying Senate Bill 527, which includes incentives authorized by the prior administration for the AstraZeneca plant in Albemarle County. Economic incentives are not something I’m always comfortable with, but they are used by every state, and we must compete to bring major opportunities to Virginia. This project and the job creations will be transformative for the community. Delegate Amy Laufer is carrying a companion bill, which has passed both chambers.
I worked this year again with Virginia Professional Fire Fighters on legislation to extend the length of time from five years to seven years that someone can file a claim for benefits under the Virginia Line of Duty Act (LODA) for occupational cancer. In 2023, 72% of all fire fighter line of duty deaths resulted from occupational cancer, and a five-year time limitation ignores the latency period for many cancers. The bill is now being reviewed in the House Appropriations subcommittee and could be revised again.
Land conservation in Virginia remains one of my legislative priorities. Some might recall back in 1999 I helped create the Land Preservation Tax Credit which to date has protected over 1.25 million acres and become one of the most successful voluntary conservation programs in the country. This session I pushed for us to set a goal of conserving 10% of land in urban areas and 20% of total land permanently by 2036. Due to concerns about cost, the bill is moving forward this year as a study. It directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to develop a land conservation plan, estimate the cost, and identify potential funding sources.
In the District
This week on the Senate floor, we recognized Charlottesville resident, renowned judge, and legal scholar J. Harvie Wilkinson III as the 2026 Outstanding Virginian. A University of Virginia Law School alumnus, Army veteran, and longest serving judge on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, his career of service to the Commonwealth and the nation is exceptional. Presenting him with Senate Joint Resolution 85 was a true privilege.
Next Sunday March 1st, Delegate Katrina Callsen (54th District), Delegate Amy Laufer (55th District), and I will host a virtual town hall covering all things post- session crossover. Keep an eye on social media or your inbox this week for more information on how to join!
Later today, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriation Committee will meet and adopt amendments to the introduced budget, forming the House and Senate budgets. Both committees will release subcommittee reports highlighting the changes. The full schedule of legislative meetings, including agendas and streaming links, is available here.
As always, it’s a privilege to serve you in the Senate of Virginia. I look forward to using these newsletters to keep you up to date on my work in the coming weeks. If you would like to visit the Capitol or the General Assembly Building, you can find information on tours and visiting hours here. If I can be of service or if you have questions or comments, please contact us at (804) 698-7511 or senatordeeds@senate.virginia.gov.
Sincerely,
