Virginia operates with a two-year budget that begins on July 1 of evenly numbered years. The state legislature adopted the biennial budget last session, so the budget work they are considering this year is to amend that budget.
The Governor proposed amendments in December, and individual legislature members filed their suggested changes during the first week of the session. Currently, the Commonwealth has some additional resources to address some of those proposals. However, the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee reported that total amendment requests exceed 16 billion dollars.
The House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance will announce their proposed amendments on Sunday, February 2, 2025. Any proposed legislation that will require a budget amendment must come out of the substantive committee early this week.
We will be looking for amendments to enhance dementia services, support workforce development, provide for the purchase of luggage for children in foster care, promote rate increases for Medicaid waiver services and supportive living, and expand permanent supportive housing, among many other services and needs impacting people with disabilities.
Our mission, at the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, is to advance independence, choice, and self-determination; protect legal, human, and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect, and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation. We are available to educate policymakers about the potential impact of legislative proposals. Please let us know of any legislation that you think we should be following, by emailing ga@dlcv.org.