October 4, 2023
The Half Sheet
Raising Local Resources: Virginia Localities Do What They Can — And Could Do More with State Help
In Virginia, public services such as education, health, and public safety are often undertaken in partnership between the state and local governments. This partnership may seem
Missed Opportunities for Virginia Immigrants in 2019 Legislative Session
Virginians of every immigration status are paying taxes and contributing to our economy and communities. The 2019 General Assembly session provided a few key opportunities to improve the livelihoods of unauthorized residents in Virginia. Unfortunately,
Virginia Sales Tax Law Catching up to Today’s Economy — With Possible Delays
During the 2019 General Assembly session, Virginia lawmakers passed important legislation to better align our state and local sales tax with the modern economy. Starting in July,
Virginia’s Revised Budget Makes Some Modest Steps Toward Dismantling Barriers Facing Virginians of Color
State budgets can advance equity or further entrench barriers to opportunity for people of color that have been systematically shaped through policy decisions.
Senate Proposes Improving Support for Low-Income Families Who Have Seen Decades of Cuts
While many of the House and Senate amendments cut the introduced budget there are some areas where one or both chambers have offered improvements. One is the Senate’s proposal
Pump the Brakes on Green-lighting High-Deductible Catastrophic Plans
While many of the House and Senate amendments cut the introduced budget there are some areas where one or both chambers have offered improvements. One is the Senate’s proposal
Who’s GILTI? What’s SALT? And What Just Happened With Virginia’s Tax Law?
Today, the governor signed a nearly $1 billion tax package that was passed earlier this week by the General Assembly (HB 2529/SB 1372). The legislation included an emergency clause
General Assembly Weighs Incremental Progress on K-12 After the Tax Fallout
The Senate and House have named the budget conferees that will be negotiating the General Assembly’s proposed changes to the state’s two-year budget. Having negotiated away a $975 million tax deal that severely limits the resources lawmakers have to fund proposals put forward in December, they will now
Let’s Make Sure the Census Counts Every Virginian
Equal representation in Congress, the state legislature, and county board of supervisors. Funding for schools, highways, and healthcare. All this…
Racial Equity Impact of Proposed House and Senate Budgets
Despite the uncertainty and hurt caused by the unearthing of racist photos and sexual assault claims, the work to determine how the state uses our shared resources from now through July 2020 must go on.
House and Senate Slash K-12 Funding Proposals Targeted to Students of Color — A Division by Division Analysis
On Thursday the Virginia House of Delegates (73 Y 25 N) and the Senate of Virginia (40-Y 0-N) approved their chambers’ amendments to the state budget. Both proposals fall far short in their K-12 investments from what the governor initially put forward in December with the House investing $143 million less
Governor and Legislators Move Forward Tax Plan That Does Little to Nothing for Many Black Families
Revelations of Virginia lawmakers’ pasts have overwhelmed state and national news stories this week. The public as well as elected leaders and lawmakers have responded by denouncing racism and looking toward more fully reckoning with the racist legacies that persist in the commonwealth.