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Youngkin cuts $900 million from the budget amendments package, including medical school expansion in Roanoke
Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued $900 million in line-item vetoes Friday to the budget amendments package passed by the General Assembly in February. Those cuts are primarily to higher education capital projects, including expansions of the Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke and the Institute for Advancing Learning and Research in Danville. Youngkin attributed the cuts, higher than previously anticipated, to what he called “short-term risks” due to cuts, shake-ups and uncertainty at the federal level, though he did not use those terms, and the need to create more of a cushion to account for unknowns.
Yancey: Youngkin vetoes contraception bill; will that boost Hashmi in the Democratic primary?
With his veto pen, Gov. Glenn Youngkin may have given an inadvertent boost Friday to one of the six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor. With his signing pen, the Republican governor may have also given an inadvertent boost to a different Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. In last month’s so-called veto session, the Democratic-controlled General Assembly rejected Youngkin’s proposed amendments on 91 bills. He had until Friday to act on those: He signed 53 in their original form and vetoed 38 others. The headline item among the vetoes was on a bill that would have guaranteed a right to contraception.
Youngkin carves out $900 million from budget as Virginia prepares for Trump-era uncertainty
What began as a session focused on how to spend Virginia’s projected multi-billion surplus has ended with Gov. Glenn Youngkin yanking nearly $900 million out of the state budget — bracing for the economic aftershocks of President Donald Trump’s new administration. At the start of the 2025 legislative session both Youngkin and members of Virginia’s General Assembly had their eyes on how best to use the windfall. But after Trump took office in late January, Youngkin announced Friday that he was setting aside a $900 million cushion to prepare for potential federal impacts.
Pressed on Reid leak, Youngkin points to progress, not responsibility
Gov. Glenn Youngkin took questions from reporters Friday following his budget presentation but left after addressing just a few inquiries about the growing controversy involving Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid. The governor was pressed by the Washington Post on whether he believes he caused the controversy. He did not directly respond to the question. The press gaggle followed Youngkin’s announcement that he would sign 135 of the 172 budget amendments sent to him by the General Assembly. His office had notified reporters in advance that he would take questions after the announcement.
Youngkin signs bill tightening baby food regulations
Virginia is now the third state in the United States to pass a law set to protect babies from dangerous contaminants in their food, joining a growing coalition of concerned states. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the Baby Food Protection bill on Friday. The legislation requires baby food makers to test for toxic heavy metals and display those test results via a QR code on the label.
Va. bill to limit social media usage for kids signed into law
A Virginia law to force social media companies to limit kids under 16 to one hour of scrolling per day on their apps and platforms was signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday. SB854, known as the "Consumer Data Protection Act," will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. The bill, subtitled "social media platforms, responsibilities and prohibitions to minors," had overwhelming support within the Virginia General Assembly from both Republicans and Democrats, with all commonwealth lawmakers voting for the legislation.
Youngkin trims $900 million from Virginia budget to hedge Trump actions
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) will use his line-item veto to cut some $900 million out of the state budget approved this year by the Virginia General Assembly and keep that money in reserve against any downturns caused by President Donald Trump’s reductions of the federal workforce, cuts to federal spending and increases in trade tariffs. Most of Youngkin’s cuts will come from one-time capital improvement projects at the state’s colleges and universities, but he said they can be restored next year if the fiscal climate permits. He said construction had not begun on any of the projects.
Richmond City Council’s apparent $50K budget boost for Michelle Mosby’s nonprofit was an error, official says
As the Richmond City Council wrapped its budget amendments Monday, members had $50,000 in taxpayer money remaining that hadn’t been dedicated for any particular purpose. In public, the council agreed to set that money to the side and figure out what to do with it later. But when the council published a document online this week formalizing its budget decisions, the spreadsheet indicated the $50,000 would go to the nonprofit run by former mayoral candidate Michelle Mosby.
Students: Alexandria school system plans to censor high school newspaper Theogony
Theogony, the Alexandria City High School student newspaper, along with other ACHS student publications, is facing censorship of its coverage by Alexandria City Public Schools administrators and the School Board, according to student journalists at Theogony. The School Board plans to amend its policy on student publications to enforce stricter rules on coverage of controversial issues, such as transportation, the High School Project and transgender policies, these journalists said.
Three Va. Planned Parenthood clinics affected by Trump administration’s Title X funding freeze
Three Virginia Planned Parenthood health centers in Richmond, Hampton and Virginia Beach have been affected by federal Title X family planning grant freezes, losing over $1 million in funds fueling family planning services. Established in 1970, the federal program helps low and extremely low-income people access family planning care like contraception, sexually transmitted disease screenings and treatment as well as cancer screenings, at low or no cost.