Negotiators haven’t met yet as infighting threatens to derail General Assembly budget process

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Could the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly need more time to pass a budget for the next two fiscal years? 

“I think at some point in time we will come together and come to an agreement, a mutual agreement that all parties can live with,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Luke Torian (D-Prince William) told 8News on Tuesday morning. 

“The budget conversations are going a little bit slow right now, but guess what, we’re gonna get there,” Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Chair Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) told 8News. 

Democratic-controlled House and Senate release budget proposals

“It is looking more and more like we will not be leaving here on time on Saturday because of the disagreements in the budget,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) said. 

House Appropriations Committee Chair Delegate Luke Torian told 8News on Tuesday that budget conferees, the lawmakers responsible for negotiating a budget compromise between the House and Senate, haven’t met yet to start the process, despite the fact that the 2026 General Assembly Session is scheduled to end on Saturday.

Torian said that while the group did have breakfast with Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger recently, they didn’t discuss the differences between the House and Senate-passed versions of the budget. 

“Pretty soon we’ll sit down and have a conversation,” Torian said.

Torian is hopeful that lawmakers can pass a budget before the scheduled end of session on Saturday, but when he was asked about whether that will happen, Torian said, “That’s yet to be determined.” Torian said he’s waiting on Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Chair Senator Louise Lucas to request a meeting. 

Torian said the biggest difference between the two chambers right now is that the Senate-passed budget would axe a sales tax exemption that data centers currently receive, something that wasn’t in the House-passed budget. 

On that topic, Lucas took to X to respond to Torian, after we interviewed both on-camera. 

Lucas said, “I beg to differ with anyone who says that it’s on me to meet to discuss this budget because I delivered a budget that makes life affordable by ending a tax giveaway to big tech. The Governor and Chairman Torian have drawn a red line!”

If lawmakers don't pass a budget by Saturday, they’ll have to pass a budget by July 1, when the new fiscal year begins, to avoid any potential lapse in funding.