House Appropriations Committee adopts biennium budget package (HB 30) in unanimous vote

The House Appropriations Committee voted 22–0 to adopt House Bill 30 with amendments, approving a biennium budget for fiscal years 2026–2028 that committee leaders said patches federal funding gaps and invests in affordability priorities across the Commonwealth.

Committee leadership opened the session by saying the package was designed to “backfill those holes, not out of politics, but out of prudence,” and described the budget as balanced and built on conservative revenue assumptions. Committee staff summarized resource changes tied to House Bill 29 and the revenue forecast, noting carryforward balances and other one‑time resources that support the biennial plan.

The amended budget includes major, targeted investments presented across several subcommittees. Education proposals total about $1.7 billion in additional funds for K–12, including a $400 million one‑time flexible payment for school divisions, a $160 million increase for students with disabilities, and $160 million for early childhood expansion aimed at families making up to 85% of the state median income. The committee adopted the elementary and secondary education subcommittee report by voice vote.

Health and human resources amendments were framed as responses to federal reductions and include premium assistance to reduce exchange premiums, restorations for public health programs and Medicaid/FAMIS services, and investments in maternal and infant health and sickle cell care. Staff described $779.1 million in premium assistance to buy down premiums on the state exchange (an average buy‑down of about 70%), $45 million to restore core Virginia Department of Health services (including Ryan White Part B restorations), and other restores for prenatal/postpartum coverage and behavioral‑health stabilization services. The health and human resources subcommittee report was adopted.

The committee also advanced housing, labor and water‑quality investments from the Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee, including a capstone increase to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (bringing its biennial total to $187.5 million), new funds for eviction‑prevention and rapid rehousing, and hundreds of millions directed to wastewater treatment and nonpoint source projects for Chesapeake Bay and statewide water quality needs.

Higher education recommendations totaled roughly $276 million and sought to preserve affordability and expand workforce and credentialing programs; transportation proposals included more than $23.3 billion for the transportation secretariat for the biennium and additional operating support for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Public‑safety items include expansion of the Safer Communities program to five additional localities and funds to support community‑violence intervention efforts.

Committee members also adopted general government and capital outlay priorities — about $2 billion in general fund support for capital projects, with roughly $1.4 billion directed to a construction pool largely for higher‑education projects — and compensation and retirement recommendations that continue multi‑year salary increases and provide a one‑time $80 million deposit to the state employee health insurance fund, alongside planned premium adjustments.

A recorded motion to adopt House Bill 30 as amended was made and seconded; the clerk announced that HB 30 with amendments was adopted at a vote of 22 to 0. The committee then adjourned.

Why it matters: Committee leaders said the amended budget is intended to protect Virginians from sudden federal funding shocks while addressing affordability, public health, education and infrastructure needs across the Commonwealth. The measure now advances according to the General Assembly process (next procedural steps were not specified in the committee transcript).