Dear John,

This past Wednesday (April 2nd) was the General Assembly’s reconvene session (also known as the veto session). During this session, we take votes on the governor’s vetoes and amendments for legislation passed this year. The governor vetoed a historic 157 bills this year, and amended another 159.

The bills that the governor vetoed could not be saved because the state constitution requires a two-thirds vote in each chamber to override a governor’s veto. Governor Youngkin’s vetoes showcased extreme positions on firearm access, voting rights, and worker protections, among other things. The vetoes were not a surprise given the backdrop of Trump’s Republican party and the rumors that Youngkin is seeking higher office.

Since we did not have the votes to override the governor’s vetoes, deliberations focused on the 159 bills Governor Youngkin recommended amending. A majority of each chamber is needed to approve the governor’s amendments to a bill. If we approve the amendments, the amended version of the bill becomes law. If we do not approve the amendments, the bill returns to the governor in its original form, and he may either sign or veto it, but may not amend it further. Lawmakers weighed the benefits of accepting some progress in exchange for some elements that were not entirely in line with our Democratic values.

We also acted on over 205 amendments that the governor made to our bipartisan budget. Information on Governor Youngkin’s budget amendments is contained in later paragraphs. 

Upcoming Arlington Town Hall:

Congressman Don Beyer will be joining me and other lawmakers for a town hall on Tuesday, April 29th. The Congressman will be discussing the impacts of Trump’s policies and how to respond. I, along with Delegates Adele McClure and Alfonso Lopez, will offer insights into the 2025 legislative session. Join us on Tuesday, April 29th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA, 22201). Please register in advance and submit any specific questions or topics of interest here. You may also scan the QR code below:

My Bills Acted on by Governor Youngkin:

I’m proud to share that 14 of my bills from the 2025 session were signed into law by Governor Youngkin, the highest number of bills signed into law by any General Assembly member in the 2025 session. These bills will improve the lives of Virginians by increasing access to healthcare, bolstering reentry programs for those formerly incarcerated, and connecting our vulnerable children with the services they need to succeed. You can read the full list of my bills, including those signed, amended, and vetoed by the governor here. I highlight a few of my bills in future paragraphs.

Reproductive and Sexual Health Data Protected

Most notably, Governor Youngkin signed into law SB754. My bill holds companies accountable if they sell or share Virginians’ reproductive or sexual health data, including data contained on period-tracking and fertility apps. This protection will ensure that individuals’ very personal data will be kept private, and the bill grants consumers the right to sue if companies do not honor this obligation.

Consumer protection efforts, particularly as they relate to data, can transcend party lines. My bill did not receive any Republican votes in the senate, but I believe some libertarian activists voiced their support for my bill to the governor and influenced him to sign it. This convergence between progressive Democrats and libertarians is a compelling example of the idea that good laws are often made when strange bedfellows find common ground.

Note on Federal Workforce Layoffs and Firings

If you are a federal employee who is impacted by Trump’s recent federal layoffs and firings, experts are recommending that you immediately submit your claim for unemployment insurance. These claims will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and it could take some time for your application to be approved. You must submit your unemployment claim in the jurisdiction where you work, not necessarily where you live. If you have further questions, or run into issues, reach out to my office and we will assist you as much as we can. You can find helpful resources here.

A Special Commission on Youth Meeting - Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center

Before the veto session began, I chaired a special meeting of the Commission on Youth to address concerns regarding the operations at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center. My office has received extremely disturbing reports of extended lockdowns, critical staffing shortages, and a lack of access to education, services, and hygiene for the youth currently incarcerated. I’m glad that I had the unanimous support of my fellow commission members to send a letter to the governor calling for an independent investigation into the operations at Bon Air. You can read more on the details of the meeting here.

Commission on Youth Meeting, April 1st

Noteworthy Legislative Action During Veto Session:

Directives to School Boards

Virginia lawmakers kept the safety of students as a top priority during the April 2nd veto session. SB1048, patroned by Senator Pekarsky, would require school boards to send annual notifications of the importance of safe storage of firearms and prescription medications in the household. Governor Youngkin’s amendments would have required schools to notify at least one parent if a student seeks help from a counselor regarding their gender identity. Lawmakers rightfully determined that this was not an appropriate amendment because it was not germane to the original bill. As a result, my colleagues and I “passed by” the governor’s amendments, meaning we did not approve them and the bill will go back to the governor in its original form.

Minimum Wage

Unfortunately, Governor Youngkin has continued to oppose legislation to ensure a living wage for hardworking Virginians. He vetoed critical legislation that would have made important progress in supporting Virginia workers who contribute to our Commonwealth’s growth and prosperity. This includes HB1625 (McClure), which would have required that farmworkers be paid the minimum wage, and HB1928 (Ward) which would have increased the minimum wage to $15/hour in Virginia in 2027. I was a strong advocate for both bills.

Paid Family Medical Leave

Governor Youngkin also attacked hardworking Virginians and their families with his vetoes of bills that would have established paid family and medical leave. HB2531 (Sewell) would have given individuals up to 12 weeks of paid time off when they have a baby or if they or a family member have a serious medical condition. I have been a chief co-patron of this bill for many sessions. Youngkin also vetoed HB1921 (Ward) which would have given every employee in Virginia access to paid sick leave. This was a bill I carried for several previous sessions. Hopefully, a new governor will be more amenable to the idea.

Mail-In Ballots

I was particularly dismayed that the governor vetoed my simple bill that would have allowed five additional hours for the receipt of mail-in ballots. The current law requires that the ballots be postmarked by Election Day and received by noon on the Friday following the election. My bill would still have required that ballots be postmarked by Election Day, but would have allowed mail-in ballots to be received up until 5:00pm on the Friday after the election. The bill attempted to adjust for the increasing unpredictability and delays in the delivery of mail by the USPS. Apparently, the governor did not want to ensure against people’s votes being discarded based on factors outside of their control.

Some of you may have also heard about President Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots. This executive order, signed in March, requires mail-in ballots to be cast and received by Election Day. However, this order may be challenged in court. An article on this topic is here.

Governor Youngkin’s Budget Actions:

Discussions surrounding the state budget were a large part of the veto session. The General Assembly’s adopted budget can be found here (HB1600). Governor Youngkin recommended 205 amendments to the General Assembly’s bipartisan budget, which must be approved by a simple majority of each chamber. He also presented eight line-item vetoes, which require a two-thirds majority to override. We accepted 33 of his budget amendments, but we either rejected or referred to the money committees the remaining amendments. Noted below are highlights of Governor Youngkin’s most harmful budget actions:

Home Ownership Upended

Two of the most harmful line-item vetoes undermined efforts the Democrats took to assist first-time homebuyers. These vetoes removed funding for a manufactured home acquisition program and a mortgage assistance program. Youngkin also amended the budget to reduce funding for a pilot down payment assistance program for first-time buyers. The Democratic majorities rejected this amendment. It was particularly disturbing to see such actions targeted to programs intended to make home ownership more affordable. Virginians across the Commonwealth rank the need for affordable housing as a top priority.

Permanent Tax Relief in Uncertain Times

The governor built in permanent tax relief related to the increased standard deduction and the earned income tax credit. I argued that a more responsible position is to provide tax relief based on the economic conditions at the time we are creating a budget. Fortunately, my colleagues joined me and rejected the permanency language, given the economic uncertainty that the state is facing because of federal actions.

Retained Funding Cap on School Support Staff

Another impactful amendment that the governor offered would have reduced state funding available for public schools to cover the costs of support staff by $138.2M.  It is incredibly important that schools have enough funding to pay for nurses, social workers, counselors, bus drivers, and other support staff. The General Assembly is not likely to accept this amendment in the final budget. 

In Summary

It is unclear what the governor will do with respect to the many budget amendments rejected by the General Assembly. He has 30 days to take action on bills returned to his desk without his amendments, including the budget. I expect the governor will want to have further conversations on his budget priorities. That desire will require a special session with more legislative actions and some carefully negotiated compromises. 

I hope you’ll visit my website at BarbaraFavola.org and subscribe to my regular newsletters. I also have a dynamic social media presence through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Blue Sky. I hope you’ll follow my work using one or more of those platforms. You may also track legislation through Virginia’s Legislative Information System. The Commonwealth’s General Assembly Website is a useful tool as well. You can follow events, find pertinent information, observe sessions, and monitor committee meetings through the site.

Thank you for your ongoing support. It is an honor and privilege to represent you in Richmond.

Sincerely,

Barbara Favola

Representing District 40