Legislative Corner Update – 2026 Virginia General Assembly Session

The 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly has officially adjourned without final passage of a biennial budget, leaving several key issues unresolved and necessitating a return to Richmond next month. Lawmakers are expected to reconvene for a special session on April 22, 2026, to continue negotiations and adopt a final budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Budget negotiations stalled amid ongoing disagreements between the House and Senate on several major policy areas. Among the sticking points were economic development incentives, including those related to data center investment and associated tax structures, alongside broader debates over tax conformity, education funding levels, and public safety spending. While progress was made in certain areas, differences ultimately proved too significant to reconcile before adjournment.

As a result, the Commonwealth enters the spring without a finalized spending plan, placing added importance on the upcoming April session to ensure continuity in government operations and funding priorities.

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber will host its Post-Legislative Luncheon on April 7, 2026, at the The George Washington Hotel. Attendees will hear directly from Virginia Delegates Bill Wiley and Dolores Oates as they provide insights and answer questions on the outcomes of the session and what to expect moving forward.

Registration is available here.