Virginia’s budget battle over data center tax exemptions has given its neighbor to the west the opportunity to woo leaders in the billion-dollar industry.
Politics
Cardinal News covers the political issues facing Southwest and Southside Virginia
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First day of the budget special session ends without an agreement on data center tax exemptions
The chairs of both of the House of Delegates and state Senate finance committees have agreed that data centers need to pay their “fair share,” but differ on how to accomplish that goal.
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General Assembly rejects more than a dozen of Spanberger’s amendments
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger amended 180 of the bills passed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature. She vetoed eight bills.
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No state budget expected until June, speaker says
Data center tax exemptions remain the sticking point amongst budget negotiators, with the Senate in support of ending those exemptions 8 years early in 2027 and the House opposed.
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Virginians narrowly approve mid-decade redistricting effort
The Democrat-backed referendum will temporarily amend the state’s constitution ahead of the 2026 midterms. Republicans are expected to continue the fight in the courts.
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Spanberger’s amendment would change who investigates VMI. Critics say that waters down the bill.
Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, patroned a bill to create a task force to investigate racism and sexism on the VMI campus. An amendment by Gov. Abigail Spanberger would put the VMI Board of Visitors in charge of that effort. Helmer says he’s OK with that.
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Del. Wren Williams’ wife gives birth on the side of the road en route to hospital
Mom and baby are doing fine, the Patrick County legislator says.
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Spanberger riles up Democrats on Senate Finance Committee for reducing expected revenues
The governor vetoed or amended two bills that Democrats were counting on to provide additional revenue.
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‘Dark money’ is fueling both sides of Virginia’s redistricting campaign
More than $79 million has been spent on Virginia’s “yes” and “no” redistricting referendum campaigns since February; roughly $76 million of that is from “dark money” groups that don’t have to disclose their donors.
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Key gun control bills advance in Virginia as firearm sales surge
Several bills expand restrictions on certain firearms and how they can be carried, if signed into law.
