House of Delegates

Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment faces a legal challenge over a procedural requirement that the House of Delegates clerk failed to send copies to circuit court clerks. Plaintiffs argue the omission violates Virginia’s constitutional amendment process, though a recent law removed this requirement, creating uncertainty about the case’s validity.

Virginia legislators approved a $205 billion two-year budget that includes a new energy consumption tax on data centers, aiming to generate up to $600 million annually. The budget funds healthcare, public education, teacher raises, and a retail weed marketplace while addressing groundwater impacts from data centers. The data center tax compromise lacks environmental standards sought by the House and retains a sales tax exemption through 2035.

The House of Delegates removed environmental standards for data centers in its budget proposal and replaced them with a commission to address issues, while Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas advocates ending tax exemptions for data centers that cost the state $1.6 billion. The budget impasse persists as both chambers prepare to reconvene before July 1.

The House budget proposal removes environmental standards for data centers and replaces them with a commission to study the industry's impacts. The plan aims to maintain tax exemptions for data centers while addressing energy demands and revenue generation.

The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a policy requiring physician oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine. The policy was passed at the AMA's annual meeting by its House of Delegates.

Virginia lawmakers are divided over whether to continue a sales tax exemption for data centers as the fiscal 2027 budget deadline approaches. The Senate voted to end the tax break, which the House rejected, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger advocating for data centers to pay their 'fair share' while facing potential government shutdown risks.

Virginia lawmakers are returning to Richmond for another budget negotiation session as the June 30 deadline nears, with a government shutdown risk if no agreement is reached. The primary dispute centers on a Senate proposal to phase out a data center tax exemption, opposed by Governor Abigail Spanberger and House Democrats who argue it could harm business investment.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed gun-control bills expanding an assault-firearms ban, drawing Republican backlash and a constitutional objection from the U.S. Department of Justice. The changes remove the term 'fixed' from firearm definitions, potentially banning most semi-automatic rifles and pistols, while the DOJ warned of legal action over potential Second Amendment violations.