On Monday, March 24, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued his decision for 916 bills that had passed the 2025 legislative session. Youngkin signed 346 of the 537 bills originating from the House and 253 of the 379 bills from the Senate. He also vetoed 157 bills and sent 159 back for amendments.
“The legislation that I’ve signed into law and the budget amendments I’ve put forward this year will go a long way to helping ensure Virginia remains a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Youngkin said.
The general assembly faced some challenges with timing, as this year was a “short session” of 46 days rather than 60 days. A severe snowstorm in early January cut off Richmond’s water supply, forcing a two and a half day delay to the start of the legislative session, exacerbating timing issues. The incident caused Senator Glen Sturtevant to introduce a bill to create new qualifications for the director of public utilities in Richmond, which has since failed.
The fast paced general assembly session saw the introduction of many bills that would impact McLean and the state as a whole. Youngkin’s decisions on legislation were similar to that of previous years as he vetoed several gun control and labor bills.
A particularly notable bill was HB1928, which would have raised the minimum wage to $13.50 in 2026 and $15.00 in 2027. Youngkin vetoed the bill, citing his preference for a gradual, CPI adjusted increase in wages rather than a direct increase to the minimum wage.
“This proposal is an arbitrary, mandatory increase in the starting wages of all employees. Such a substantial increase will raise business operational costs,” Youngkin said. “Implementing an arbitrary $15-per-hour wage mandate may not impact Northern Virginia, where economic conditions lead to historically higher wages, but this approach is detrimental for small businesses across the rest of Virginia.”
The decision was criticized by Democratic legislators, especially because Youngkin has refused to change his position on the minimum wage. In 2024, he vetoed a similar bill, providing an explanation that closely resembled this year’s veto explanation.
“I knew what [Youngkin] would do,” House speaker Don Scott said. “The Republicans in the House and Senate can decide whether they’re going to stand up to the governor and stand with Virginians.”
Youngkin also vetoed several bills on gun control, including SB848, which placed age limitations on certain firearms; SB880, which prevented the carrying of assault firearms in public; and SB1134, which created additional requirements for firearms storage in households with small children.
“My position on this legislation from last year is unchanged,” Youngkin said. “Firearm regulation in Virginia should remain targeted at malicious intent and negligence rather than imposing mandated unrealistic practices for largely responsible gun owners.”
One bill, HB2550, was of particular importance to the McLean area. The bill would have allowed law enforcement in certain areas of Northern Virginia, including McLean, to install noise monitoring systems in order to enforce local laws against street racing.
“The governor vetoed this bill for the most asinine reason,” Dranesville District supervisor Jimmy Bierman said. “He said that it would create inconsistencies between localities, which doesn’t make much sense.”
Despite the continued disagreements over policy, several bipartisan bills passed and received Youngkin’s subsequent approval. HB1910/SB1289, a bill to raise food standards in public schools, passed unanimously. The bill prevents elementary and secondary schools having seven common food additives in meal offering, including Red 40 and Yellow 5.
“[Virginia is] the second state in the nation to pass legislation banning harmful food dyes in K-12 schools,” Senator Emily Jordan said. “Every child in Virginia deserves to start the day with a nutritious meal that will fuel their academic success.”
Youngkin also signed SB1030, extending the time period for which a physical examination for student athletes is valid from 12 to 14 months, and SB822, limiting the amount of non-academic related training that a school district can assign to teachers.
At the moment, the general assembly is preparing for its reconvened session on April 2, where it must process the Youngkin’s amendments and vetoes. Youngkin’s budget amendments include a notable increase to $5 billion dollars for the “rainy-day” fund, meant to address unforeseen financial issues. The fund could become relevant given the recent cuts in federal funding.
““I have returned many bills with recommended amendments, hoping that we can come together next week with common purpose to advance these bills,” Youngkin said. “I thank every member of the General Assembly for their service to the Commonwealth.”
