Gov. Glenn Youngkin and first lady Suzanne Youngkin enter a committee meeting room at the General Assembly Office Building in Richmond before the governor presented his final budget to lawmakers at the joint meeting of the House Appropriations, House Finance and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committees on Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)
Outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday rolled out his final two-year budget proposal before a joint meeting of the General Assembly’s money committees, pitching a plan built on what he called Virginia’s strong fiscal footing while using the moment to cement his administration’s legacy as he prepares to leave office next month.
The $72 billion general fund proposal — part of a $212 billion total spending plan — covers the biennium running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. It includes pay raises for teachers, state employees and local public workers, tax relief for individuals and businesses, major increases in Medicaid spending, and a $50 million investment to overhaul Virginia’s child welfare system, one of Youngkin’s final policy priorities…