Dozens of Central Virginia residents testified at a public budget hearing urging the General Assembly to amend Governor Youngkin's proposed 2026-2028 biennial budget, with the dominant themes being inadequate rates for disability and home care services, threats to child care and prenatal coverage, underfunded education and conservation programs, and calls to defund the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. No votes were taken; this was a public testimony hearing only.
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Victoria Richardson (Virginia Poverty Law Center) argued that while the Governor's budget projects general fund savings of $13–$16 million per year from eliminating FAMIS prenatal coverage, it simultaneously acknowledges a loss of more than $20 million annually in federal funds, making the proposal fiscally counterproductive; no legislative proponent testified to rebut this position at the hearing.
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“While the budget projects general fund savings of 13 to 16 million per year, it simultaneously acknowledges a loss of more than 20 million annually in federal fund. We would be leaving substantial federal dollars on the table and paying more for worse health outcomes.”
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Sign in to subscribeRichmond, Virginia. This is one of four virtual regional hearings on the state budget being held across the commonwealth today by the Senate Finance and the House Appropriations Committees. Each year, the committees are required by law to hold a series of public hearings on the Governor's proposed budget to give all of you, the citizens of Virginia, the opportunity to comment on specific issues of concern to you. So today is your opportunity to talk and our job as legislators to listen to you. Let me take a moment before we begin to have the other legislators with us today introduce themselves. Staff will call out your name and then you may state your name and the district you represent. Delegate Wyatt, Scott Wyatt, representing the 60th House District, portions of Hanover and portions of New King County. Delegate Willett, good morning. Delegate Rodney Willett representing the 58th House District, which is parts of Western Henrico. And Senator Hashmi, good morning. Senator Hashmi representing the 15th senatorial district for a few more days still. And that includes parts of City of Richmond and Chesterfield County. Good to see everybody. Thanks, everyone. Senator McDougall, good morning. Ryan McDougal, represent Hanover…
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