The General Assembly reconvened Wednesday to act upon Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) recommended amendments to bills proposed in the 2026 legislative session. The House of Delegates and state Senate accepted the majority of Spanberger’s recommendations, according to VPM, but legislators did not accept amendments to marquee bills on gun control, drug affordability and collective bargaining.
Regarding the bills for which the General Assembly rejected Spanberger’s amendments, Spanberger now has 30 days to either sign the bills in the versions they passed the General Assembly or veto them.
The Senate recessed early afternoon Thursday to be called back with 48 hours notice by the Senate Rules Chair.
The General Assembly did not come to a consensus on the budget — the Commonwealth operates under a two-year budget cycle, and the governor prepares a budget bill for introduction by the General Assembly each year. Amendments can revise Spanberger’s proposed budget, and in a session Thursday, the General Assembly was unable to vote on a budget agreement to come into operation July 1. Key to the disagreement is controversy over a sales tax exemption for data centers, according to 8News. Lawmakers have until July 1 to hold a special session to pass a budget.
Spanberger’s amendments that the General Assembly accepted
Many of Spanberger’s recommendations — 180 amendments, in total — were passed by the General Assembly, including legislation on education, affordability and energy. Spanberger wrote that she is looking forward to progressing “shared priorities” in a press release following the completion of the reconvened session.
“This session, lawmakers advanced our shared priorities to make life more affordable for families, strengthen public schools, strengthen protections for working Virginians, keep our communities safe, and attract new business investment,” Spanberger wrote in the press release. “I was proud to sign legislation that will deliver for Virginians, and I’m excited that even more of our shared priorities will now become law.”
Regarding her Affordable Virginia Plan, Spanberger’s amendments to House Bill 2 were accepted by the General Assembly — the bill reduces energy costs through efficiency upgrades by requiring major utility companies, including Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power, to make “reasonable efforts” to provide or expand weatherization and energy-efficiency programs. Spanberger’s amendment adds minor flexibility around the bill’s requirements.
In the same vein of affordability, Spanberger’s amendments to Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 1207 were accepted by the Legislature — the bills create a paid family medical leave program.
Some legislation regarding gun safety saw amendments accepted by the General Assembly — amendments to House Bill 1525 and Senate Bill 727/House Bill 1524 were accepted. The pieces of legislation prohibit the purchase of certain firearms by adults under 21 and outlaw transporting many types of firearms on public property.
Spanberger’s amendments that the General Assembly rejected
Relating to higher education, Spanberger’s amendment to House Bill 1385 — legislation that would change the appointment process and governing of board members of Virginia universities — passed by for the day, meaning it failed the General Assembly. Spanberger can now veto or approve the original version of the bill. The original version of the bill increases board member term lengths from four to six years, and it requires governing boards to “adopt policies defining and implementing shared governance.”
Similarly relevant to the University, House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378 would allow collective bargaining for public employees, and Spanberger’s proposed amendments would have delayed the implementation and “clarif[ied] that any agreement with budget implications remains subject to approval by the local government boards,” according to an April 13 press release by Spanberger. Lawmakers did not accept Spanberger’s version of the bill.
Also among the bills with rejected amendments include Senate Bill 271, which Spanberger amended April 13. SB 271, or the “Affordable Medicine Act,” would enable the Commonwealth to set upper payment limits on drugs and create a Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel to enhance price transparency, strengthen data collection and develop policy recommendations to improve drug affordability.
SB 271 passed out of the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Spanberger’s amendment delayed the bill’s implementation, requiring it to pass again in 2027. The General Assembly rejected Spanberger’s recommendations to the bill, and a lawmaker said that the amendments would have pushed negotiations on the legislation into the future regardless.
Both the House and Senate also rejected Spanberger’s amendments to House Bill 217 and Senate Bill 749, which would ban the sale and purchase of assault-style weapons. Spanberger’s amendments asked for additional clarity to law enforcement and protected use of certain guns for the purpose of game hunting. The Senate passed the amendments by for the day, meaning Spanberger will have to consider the initial bill that the General Assembly approved.
The General Assembly also did not approve of Spanberger’s substitute version of Senate Bill 542 and House Bill 642, which would establish “a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market” to be governed by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Spanberger’s version of the bill limited the number of retail locations for weed and featured harsher criminal penalties.
On the subject of rejected amendments, Spanberger said she will work to ensure that the proposed legislation can become law in a form that best serves the Commonwealth.
“Among our shared priorities are some significant changes for Virginia. As Governor — and the person responsible for implementing these changes, I put forth amendments focused on enabling us to do so,” Spanberger said in the press release. “I will continue to work with the patrons of the bills that are coming back to my desk to make sure that when these bills become law, we get it right.”
Legislation passed in the 2026 legislative session, unless an exception is made, will become law July 1.
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