RICHMOND, Va. — Yesterday, the General Assembly accepted several amendments to HB 1600, the 2024-2026 biennial budget bill, while passing by – effectively rejecting – key amendments that Gov. Youngkin made that would have harmed middle class Virginians. The budget now returns to the governor for his consideration with many amendments restored to the form in which they passed the legislature with bipartisan support in February, including measures to establish a first-time homebuyers grant program, support affordable housing for working parents, and position Virginia to respond effectively to the damaging effects on Virginia’s economy wrought by the Trump administration.
In response, Freedom Virginia co-Executive Director Ryan O’Toole released the following statement:
“We’re grateful that the General Assembly’s focus on immediate economic relief for the middle class means that hardworking Virginians will benefit this year from rebate checks, an increase to the state’s standard deduction, and an increase in the refundability of the Earned Income Tax Credit. And we especially applaud their action to reject the Governor’s elitist amendments that failed to acknowledge the real economic crises facing Virginia families.
As dangerous tariffs pushed by the Department of Greedy Elites are about to raise the already-high cost of housing, we need a first-time homebuyers grant program and support for working parents to stay in one affordable home throughout their child’s school year. And as the Trump-Musk administration takes a chainsaw to Virginia’s workforce and economy, we need the state to respond quickly in the event of federal cuts to ensure our economy works for the middle class, not billionaires. We urge the governor to sign this budget immediately and finally side with his constituents, not his donors.”
