General Assembly largely rejects Youngkin’s legislative and budget amendments

Women’s contraception and a ghost gun ban are two of the hot topics that Youngkin sent back to the GA. The General Assembly rejected the amendments and sent them back to the governor, who is likely to add these to his veto list.

By the numbers

On March 24, 2025 Youngkin signed 599 bills into law, amended 159, and vetoed 157. The Governor returned the budget with 205 amendments and eight item vetoes.The General Assembly reconvened on April 2 to take up Youngkin’s proposed amendments.

A selection of important bills vetoed by the Governor – the General Assembly was not able to overturn any of these vetoes.

• HB1625, HB1928, HB2561 – Bills to raise the minimum wage and add employee protections for farm and temporary labor
• HB1724 – Prescription Drug Affordability Board; established, drug cost affordability review, report.
• HB2531 – Paid family and medical leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action.
• SB891, SB848, SB880, SB1134 Gun safety bills:
  • Mandatory Five-Day Waiting Period
  • Age Restrictions on Semi-Automatic Firearms
  • Public Carry Restrictions on Rifles & Shotguns
  • Mandatory Firearm Storage for Households with Children
• A searchable list of all vetoed bills is available here.

A selection of important bills with amendments requested

• HB1716, SB1105 – Contraception; establishes right to obtain, applicability, enforcement. The governor proposed an exemption allowing physicians to refuse to provide birth control on religious moral grounds. As they did last year, the legislature rejected the amendments and sent these back to the Governor. He will likely veto again.
• SB881 – Ghost Gun Ban & Firearm Serialization Requirements. The governor proposed raising minimum sentence for a second offense from 5 to 10 years and requested budget adjustments to cover the added cost. The Senate rejected the amendment and sent it back to the Governor. A veto is likely.
• A searchable list of amended bills will be available here.

A notable budget line veto:

• Language in the budget that would have mandated localities host a public referendum to bring gaming companies to Virginia. Specifically the Rosie’s Gaming Emporium planned for Staples Mill and supported by the Henrico Board of Supervisors. The General Assembly did not vote to overturn any of the 8 budget line item vetoes.

Among the largest cuts by the Governor to the General Assembly’s budget were $138,000,000 from funding for school support staff, $25,000,000 from HVAC improvements at Nottoway Correctional Center, $20,000,000 for a rental assistance pilot program, and $15,000,000 for a first-time homebuyer grant program. **Legislators largely rejected changes Youngkin recommended leaving a package of budget amendments similar to **the one passed by the General Assembly to consider, but adjusted for Youngkin’s vetoes. He will now be able to veto items that include his recommendations that legislators didn’t agree to.