Although the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on Saturday, March 7, budget conferees have yet to finalize their negotiations on key issues and provide 48 hours for legislators to review the new two-year state budget. Legislators are also separately working to reconcile differences in the approaches to raising Virginia’s minimum wage.

Budget – Unresolved budget issues are reportedly related to public college and university funding and state employee compensation.

Minimum Wage Increase – As we have reported previously, the House and Senate have each passed different approaches to the wage increases. HB 395, calls for annual incremental increases beginning July 1 until the minimum wage reaches $15.00/hour in 2025. The Senate’s approach in SB 7 is to raise wages on different schedules that vary by region across the state. While wages will eventually reach $15.00/hour and above across the state, the various regions will move up at different increments over time.

Conferees deliberating on the bills are Del. Jeion Ward (D-Hampton), Del. Paul Krizek (D-Alexandria), Del. Matthew Fariss (R-Campbell County), Sen. Dick Saslaw (D- Saslaw (D-Springfield), Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), Sen. Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg).