Roanoke legislative committee hears state session update, flags data-center tax dispute and local implications

Summary

Preston Bryant of McGuireWoods briefed Roanoke’s legislative committee on the General Assembly’s unfinished budget, a $1.6 billion dispute over a data‑center sales‑tax exemption, and a slate of bills affecting housing, solar, tree canopy and public‑safety transport that could affect local policy choices.

Preston Bryant, a representative from McGuireWoods, told Roanoke’s legislative committee on April 6 that the General Assembly had not adopted a final budget because of a major disagreement over the data‑center sales‑tax exemption, which the Senate sought to end effective Jan. 1, 2027, creating roughly a $1.6 billion gap that stalled final agreement.

Bryant said the governor has until April 13 to sign, amend or veto bills, and the legislature will reconvene on April 22 for veto consideration and on April 23 for a special budget session. “We are scheduled to come back into session on April 22,” Bryant said, adding that conferees would work to reconcile outstanding differences quickly.

Why it matters: the data‑center dispute and other unresolved budget items determine whether several local priorities — including capital funding for a medical school project, increases…

Roanoke legislative committee hears state session update, flags data-center tax dispute and local implications

Summary

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