Governor Glenn Youngkin has concluded his actions on the 916 bills sent to him during the 2025 General Assembly session, a process marked by both cooperation and conflict. He signed 599 bills into law, amended 159, and vetoed 157, also returning the budget with numerous amendments and item vetoes.
Governor’s statement released in a press release“I have completed my actions on the more than 900 bills sent to me during the 2025 legislative session,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “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.
“Among the bills I have signed are proposals that will keep school lunches free from artificial dyes, cement Virginia as home of the world’s first commercial nuclear fusion facility, expand rural electric co-ops ability to drive economic development, modernize school transportation to reverse chronic absenteeism, and give more students opportunities to take advanced math classes.
“I have returned many bills with recommended amendments, hoping that we can come together next week with common purpose to advance these bills.
“And I have vetoed bills that I think will take the Commonwealth backward by raising the cost of living, hurting our strong job growth, stifling innovation, undermining our All-American All-of-the-Above Power and Energy Plan or making our communities less safe.
“I thank every member of the General Assembly for their service to the Commonwealth and await their return next week to consider the additional actions on these bills.”
Governor Youngkin’s 157 vetoed bills passed during the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session, surpassed the veto count of any Virginia governor in the past 30 years.
Notable vetoes include:
- Recreational Marijuana Market: Legislation to establish a retail cannabis market with sales beginning in May 2026 was vetoed.
- Minimum Wage Increase: A proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027 was rejected.
- Paid Sick Leave: A bill mandating paid sick leave for all Virginia workers was vetoed.
- Collective Bargaining for Public Employees: Legislation aiming to remove the prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees was turned down.
- Prescription Drug Affordability Board: A proposal to create a board focused on prescription drug affordability was vetoed.
- Firearm Purchase Waiting Period: A bill introducing a five-day waiting period for firearm purchases to allow for comprehensive background checks was rejected.
- Education and Health Initiatives: Youngkin vetoed measures related to mental health support in schools and other diverse topics, including temperature regulations in correctional facilities and restrictions on certain weapons in public spaces.
Governor Youngkin stated that these vetoes were necessary to prevent increased costs for businesses and consumers and to maintain public safety.
The full list of signed, amended and vetoed bills are available on the Governor of Virginia website at https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2025/march/name-1043239-en.html
Author
Tania Hossain is the editor, publisher, and co-owner of The Independent News Press, a consortium of local print and online newspapers in Virginia. She focuses on writing about community issues and advocates for local newspapers, both print and online, especially in the age of Ai from selfie filters to betting on military strikes. A Merrifield resident, she is a keen backyard gardener, loves forest bathing and a curious biohacker, believing that proactive health keeps one out of the costly illness industry. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine launch, she feels fortunate to be running this newspaper.
