Senators present wide-ranging budget amendments including election registrar funding, airport renovation, and workforce initiatives
January 23, 2026 | 2026 Legislature VA, Virginia
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The Senate of Virginia committee set aside time for non-committee members to present budget amendments covering infrastructure, education, workforce, public safety and local needs. Madam Chair opened the sign-up sheet and asked members to prioritize their top four amendments.
Members proposed focused items and larger packages. Requests included additional staff for the Department of Criminal Justice Services to speed background checks for private security and related licensed professions; $250,000 for the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s stranded-animal response program; roughly $4,000,000 to assist NOVA Parks with acquiring a former bank building and trail segments in Vienna; and funding for additional positions in the Attorney General’s office.
A mix of education and workforce proposals included $10,000,000 for graduate medical education reporting and transparency through the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, $10,000,000 (non-general funds) plus $10,000,000 general to upgrade Department of Social Services case management systems, and a $2,000,000-per-year pilot to recruit and train certified nursing assistants statewide. Members also proposed $40,000,000 for Roanoke Regional Airport renovations, $7,000,000 for a runway-extension feasibility study, funding to expand the Excel Center adult high-school program, and multiple local infrastructure and flood-preparedness requests.
Several members noted the cumulative total of requests far exceeded available resources (the chair cited an initial figure of about $17.4 billion in requests between two bills) and asked members to prioritize. The committee did not take final votes on most individual amendments during the session; members presented their proposals for committee and public consideration.
What happens next: The amendments will be considered and prioritized as the budget process continues through committee and floor action.
Members proposed focused items and larger packages. Requests included additional staff for the Department of Criminal Justice Services to speed background checks for private security and related licensed professions; $250,000 for the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s stranded-animal response program; roughly $4,000,000 to assist NOVA Parks with acquiring a former bank building and trail segments in Vienna; and funding for additional positions in the Attorney General’s office.
A mix of education and workforce proposals included $10,000,000 for graduate medical education reporting and transparency through the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, $10,000,000 (non-general funds) plus $10,000,000 general to upgrade Department of Social Services case management systems, and a $2,000,000-per-year pilot to recruit and train certified nursing assistants statewide. Members also proposed $40,000,000 for Roanoke Regional Airport renovations, $7,000,000 for a runway-extension feasibility study, funding to expand the Excel Center adult high-school program, and multiple local infrastructure and flood-preparedness requests.
Several members noted the cumulative total of requests far exceeded available resources (the chair cited an initial figure of about $17.4 billion in requests between two bills) and asked members to prioritize. The committee did not take final votes on most individual amendments during the session; members presented their proposals for committee and public consideration.
What happens next: The amendments will be considered and prioritized as the budget process continues through committee and floor action.
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