After months of impasse and firm lines drawn in the sand, a much-delayed state budget agreement sailed through the General Assembly with a compromise on data center taxation suggested months ago by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
People are also reading…
"Where we ended up was where we started in the first place, the Senate, too. We were all in the same room, the Senate, the House, the administration ... we're in the same place we would have been in March with a lot of pain," said House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks to reporters on Monday.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, left, speaks with Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, in the Senate on Monday.
Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, speaks to reporters Monday.
Photos: General Assembly budget session on June 22, 2026
Heels are seen during a lunch break at the Virginia State Capitol on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, makes a statement during a Virginia Senate session on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, speaks during a Virginia House of Delegates session on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. Kimberly Pope Adams, D-Dinwiddie, reacts during a Virginia House of Delegates session on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. Margaret Franklin, D-Prince William, stands during a Virginia House of Delegates session on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. Amy Laufer, D-Albemarle, listens during a House of Delegates discussion on budget negotiations on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. J.J. Singh, D-Loudoun, reacts during a Virginia House of Delegates session on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, makes a comment to Del. Eric Phillips, R-Henry, during a Virginia House of Delegates session on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Del. Charles Schmidt, D-Richmond, sits in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, presides over the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
"Where we ended up was where we started in the first place, the Senate, too. We were all in the same room, the Senate, the House, the administration ... we're in the same place we would have been in March with a lot of pain," said House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth.
Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, speaks to members of the press during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Katrina Callsen, D-Charlottesville, exits the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, speaks in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, exits the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, speaks to reporters Monday.
Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, speaks in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, listens in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, sits in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks to reporters on Monday.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks to members of the press, during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks to members of the press, during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, speaks in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Betsy Carr, D-Richmond, speaks in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, speaks in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Amy Laufer, D-Albemarle, smiles in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, speaks in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, speaks in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del May Nivar, D-Henrico, listens in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, center, speaks to Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, right, in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del. Scott Wyatt, R-Hanover, sits in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks to members of the press, during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Del May Nivar, D-Henrico, listens in the House of Delegates during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, listens in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, right, looks over the shoulder of Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Russet Perry, D-Loudoun, laughs in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, speaks in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, left, speaks with Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, left, speaks with Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, in the Senate on Monday.
Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, right, whispers to Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, stands in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, speaks in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, stands in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, listens in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, stands in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Russet Perry, D-Loudoun, laughs in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, left, whispers to Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, sits in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, left, speaks to Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, left, and Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, laugh in the senate during a reconvened legislative session to vote on the budget, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Richmond, Va.
