The General Assembly stripped Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s amendments from some key bills, sending them back to her in their enrolled form for her signature or veto.
Amendments rejected by the General Assembly include Spanberger’s action that would have delayed the start of retail sales for marijuana and another that would have delayed the start of collective bargaining for Virginia’s local government employees. Lawmakers have said that the governor’s amendments present a significant departure from the intention of the bills as they were passed by the legislative body. The legislature also rejected a proposed Spanberger amendment that would have turned a prescription drug affordability board into an advisory body.
Spanberger issued amendments to 180 of the more than 1,100 bills passed by the General Assembly during the 2026 session. She vetoed eight bills, including one that would have legalized so-called “skill games.” The General Assembly took up Spanberger’s actions in the one-day reconvene session in the middle of an action-packed week.
The governor will have 30 days to either sign or veto legislation without her amendments, if those amendments are rejected by the legislature.
The General Assembly also accepted amendments by Spanberger on a number of bills, including one that aims to establish a task force to root out racism and sexism at the Virginia Military Institute. That amendment puts the responsibility of investigating VMI under the purview of the institute’s board of visitors.
No further action is needed for bills if the governor’s amendments are accepted by the General Assembly.
Here are some of the key bills that the governor vetoed or amended:
Animals
SB 344, by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax County
HB 112, by Del. Amy Laufer, D-Albemarle County
Bills aimed at roadside zoos and others that are trading captive wildlife would ban separating baby wild mammals from their mothers before 4 months of age, unless medically necessary, with exceptions, including agricultural animals and noncommercial trades between accredited zoological facilities. Also prohibited would be so-called hybridization, or intentionally breeding wild mammals of different species.
Status: The governor’s amendments to HB 113 and SB 344 were accepted by the General Assembly.
Laufer had said that the governor’s amendments to the bill are largely technical in nature and do not change the overall intent of the bill.
Cannabis
HB 642, by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax County
SB542, by Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Henrico County
These bills would create a framework for the creation of the retail marijuana market. Lawmakers were opposed to the governor’s amendments, saying that they were a departure from the original intent of the legislation. The legislature had wanted to start retail sales Jan. 1, 2027, with 350 licensed stores; the governor had wanted to delay the start until July with 200 stores.
Status: The governor’s amendments to HB 642 and SB 542 were passed by for the day in the General Assembly, which means the amendments failed and the bill will go back to the governor without them. The governor can either sign or veto the bill.
Education
HB 1385, by Del. Lily Franklin, D-Montgomery County
This bill would change the appointment process to make it clear that gubernatorial appointees do not take office until they are confirmed by the General Assembly. Previously, they took office immediately.
Status: The governor’s amendments to HB 1385 were passed by for the day in the General Assembly, which means the amendment failed and the bill will go back to the governor without the amendment. The governor can either sign or veto the bill.
VMI study
HB 1377, by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax County
This bill would initiate a study “to determine VMI’s responsiveness to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s 2021 report on the institution and to explore changes to be made to distance VMI from the Lost Cause.” Initially, the bill directed the task force to examine whether VMI should receive state funding, but that provision was removed, and VMI later endorsed the bill.
Status: The governor’s amendment to HB 1377 was accepted by the General Assembly.
Jeremiah Woods, an alumnus of VMI and proponent of Helmer’s bill who has spoken in support of the legislation at committee meetings, said he does not support the governor’s amendments.
Helmer had said that he approves of the governor’s amendments, which would put the VMI Board of Visitors in charge of the study.
Electricity
Balcony solar
HB 395, by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax County
SB 250, by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County
These bills would allow Virginians to use small portable solar generation devices that plug into a standard electric outlet, potentially saving money on electric bills, without entering into a contract with an electric utility. The devices are commonly called “balcony solar” because, rather than requiring solar panels to be installed on a roof or mounted on the ground, their relatively small size allows them to be used in many locations, such as an apartment balcony.
Status: The governor’s amendments to HB 395 and 250 were accepted by the General Assembly.
Surovell said amendments to SB 250 were largely technical in nature.
Battery energy storage systems on solar farms
HB 891, by Del. Irene Shin, D-Fairfax County
SB 443, by Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William County
These bills fast-track adding battery energy storage systems, which store excess energy to be deployed as needed, to existing utility-scale solar facilities by saying battery storage is allowed as an accessory use wherever solar farms have already been approved.
Status: The governor’s amendments to HB 891 and SB 443 were accepted by the General Assembly.
McPike had said Spanberger’s amendment appeared mostly technical.
Dominion Energy’s largest customers pay certain costs
SB 253, by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth
HB 1393, by Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico County
The bills would have directed state regulators to decide whether Dominion Energy’s largest category of customers, most of which are data centers, should pay certain costs related to ensuring that power is available even during peak demand times and related to infrastructure needed to connect those customers to the electric grid. They would also expand Dominion’s and Appalachian Power’s energy assistance and weatherization programs and extend the timeline for a Dominion program that buries vulnerable overhead power lines. Critics had argued that the rising cost of the undergrounding program would eventually negate savings from the cost shift to data centers.
[Disclosure: Dominion is one of our donors, but donors have no say in news decisions; see our policy.]
Status: Most of the governor’s amendments to SB 253 and HB1393 were rejected by the General Assembly, but a handful were accepted. The governor will now have to decide to sign or veto the bill with the accepted amendments.
The amendments accepted by the General Assembly include one to remove a requirement for Dominion to present a proposal to the State Corporation Commission to shift certain data center costs to the customer class made up primarily of large data centers; one that would remove the original bill’s provision allowing certain customers under construction as of July to qualify for exemption from that largest class of electricity customers and remove the requirement that Dominion include a proposal to revise its tariff for service to customers that own power plants; and one to add that the SCC should determine whether a financing order for Dominion’s deferred fuel costs is in the public interest.
Energy efficiency upgrades
HB 2, by Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax County (now secretary of finance)
SB 72, by Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, D-Loudoun County
The bills would require Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to help some low-income residents who use oil and propane heat transition to energy-efficient electric heat pumps.
Status: Governor’s amendments to HB 2 and SB 72 were accepted by the General Assembly.
Lawmakers said that the amendments were largely technical in nature, and they were accepted along party lines.
Guns
Assault weapons ban
HB 217, by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax County
SB 749, by Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Falls Church
These bills would make it a misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer an assault firearm.
Status: HB 217 and SB 749 were passed by for the day by the General Assembly, which means the amendment failed and the bill will go back to the governor without the amendment. The governor can either sign or veto the bill.
Health care
Prescription drug affordability board
SB 271 by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville
HB 483, by Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax County
This bill would create a state-run prescription drug affordability board that would review the pricing of high-cost prescription drugs and, in some cases, set upper payment limits. This is the fourth attempt to create such a board; Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed similar legislation in 2024 and 2025.
Status: HB 483 and SB 271 were passed by for the day by the General Assembly, which means the amendment failed and the bill will go back to the governor without the amendment. The governor can either sign or veto the bill.
Deeds had said that the governor’s amendment turns the board into a strictly advisory board.
Delaney had said that she is disappointed that the governor’s amendments “do not align with the solution we spent years crafting, and achieved, with immense bipartisan support.”
Labor
Paid family medical leave
HB 1207, by Del. Briana Sewell, D-Prince William County
SB 2, by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax County
These bills would create a paid family medical leave program, including a tax on employers and employees.
Status: The governor’s amendments to SB 2 and HB 1207 were agreed to by the General Assembly.
Freedom Virginia had said that the amendments to the legislation are largely technical in nature. Freedom Virginia is a 501(c)(4) organization that lobbies in support of “economic advancement policies.”
Collective bargaining
HB 1263, by Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax County
SB 378, by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County
These bills would allow collective bargaining for public employees. The governor’s amendment would extend the local government compliance requirement to 2030 and would give the governor more power over the policy details of implementation.
Status: The governor’s amendments to HB 1263 and SB 378 were passed by for the day in the General Assembly, which means the amendments failed and the bill will go back to the governor without them. The governor can either sign or veto the bill.
Face coverings
HB 1482, by Del. Charlie Schmidt, D-Richmond
SB 352, by Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Falls Church
The House bill would ban state and local police officers from wearing face coverings. The Senate bill applies to federal officers operating in Virginia.
Status: SB 352 and HB 1482 were passed by for the day by the General Assembly, which means the amendments failed and the bills will go back to the governor without the amendments. The governor can either sign or veto the bills.
Salim had issued his opposition to the amendment in mid-April, saying they would make the bills “toothless.”
