House passes revised biennial budget, HB 1600, after votes on committee and floor amendments

The Virginia House of Delegates on Feb. 6, 2025, passed House Bill 1600, the biennial budget amendment package for fiscal years ending June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2026, after a full day of committee-amendment votes and debate.

Delegate John Torrey, the lead mover speaking to the bill, said the package used surplus revenue to provide tax relief, expand education funding and address housing and childcare shortages. “At its core, our job, our one job as legislators, is to do what we can to improve the lives of Virginia’s citizens,” Torrey said while describing the amendment package.

The amendments described by Torrey include a $1.1 billion package of tax relief measures (a $200 individual and $400 joint filer rebate to be issued by Oct. 15, 2025, an increase in the standard deduction to $8,750 for individuals and $17,500 for joint filers, and an increase in the refundable portion of the earned income tax credit to 20 percent of the federal credit), $774 million in additional state support for K–12 public education including a $1,000 teacher bonus with no required local match, funding intended to eliminate the child-care subsidy waiting list, targeted housing investments, and additional higher-education supports. Torrey also said the budget expands waiver slots for developmental disability services that had…