Virginia General Assembly to meet next week on budget deal

In February 2021 Virginia released a time-lapse update on the new General Assembly Building. It is scheduled to open following the 2023 General Assembly session.

The General Assembly will meet in special session next week to complete its work on a pending budget agreement, with little time to spare before moving into its new legislative home next to Capitol Square.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday that he is calling the legislature into session next Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. to act on revisions to the two-year budget that have been delayed six months by a political impasse over the governor's quest for $1 billion in tax cuts.

He would get $1 billion in tax reductions under the pending deal, but almost all of it in one-time rebates to taxpayers that the Senate insisted on instead of the permanent cuts to corporate and individual income tax rates he had proposed.

Youngkin had said that he "can live with" the compromise over tax relief, bridging a political divide that had caused budget negotiations to break down on Feb. 24, the night before the assembly was to adjourn, and again on June 27, days before the end the fiscal year on June 30. It marked the second time in 50 years that Virginia had entered a new fiscal year without a revised budget, but the state is still operating on the two-year budget adopted 15 months ago.

On Aug. 23 Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Pocahontas Building in Richmond to a joint meeting of the legislature’s money committees about the state’s revenues.

“I am calling Virginia’s lawmakers back to Richmond to reach a resolution on the state budget. Virginians deserve it," the governor said in a statement. "To make Virginia more affordable for families and local businesses, we must deliver on our shared goals for more jobs, safer and healthier communities, greater workforce and educational opportunities and much needed tax relief for Virginians.

"Together, we can get the job done.”

The assembly has little time to complete its work on the budget deal, with details on spending and policy still to be announced. Legislative staff will begin moving into the new General Assembly Building at East Broad and North 9th Streets on Sept. 11 for the building's opening to the public a month later on Oct. 11.

The new building — 14 stories above ground and one below — will replace a complex on the same spot that the assembly vacated in 2017 and the state demolished, leaving only the 1912 facade of the old Life Insurance Company of Virginia headquarters facing Capitol Square. The move back into the building has been delayed twice, preventing the General Assembly from returning for its legislative session earlier this year and again this summer.

Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, co-chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, and Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, played key roles in the budget negotiations.

"We are excited to finally get the project over the finish line," said Joe Damico, director of the Department of General Services, which has overseen the design and construction of the new building for the assembly.

The new building was part of a $300 million package of improvements around Capitol Square that also included renovation of Old City Hall and construction of a parking garage on East Broad Street that will be connected by underground tunnel to the legislature's new quarters. The assembly approved the capital project in 2016 after a political showdown with then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe and then included $25 million in the budget in 2020 to build a tunnel from the new building to the Capitol.

Construction on the new General Assembly Building started in 2019.

Last September, the state announced that completion of the new building would be delayed by the inability to get critical equipment in time because of global supply chains snarled during the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing the assembly from convening its session there in January. In June, the state said it delayed the move again because of an equipment failure that prevented one of the building's stairwells from meeting building code requirements.

"After experiencing many years of conservation and construction, as well as overcoming many obstacles, I'm delighted that the new General Assembly Building is completed and opening soon," House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Senate Rules Chair Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, praised the construction of a new building that preserves the historic facade on the same site of the legislature's old offices, which occupied three buildings from different eras.

"This blending of old and new is indicative of the legislative body itself, tracing its roots to 1619 but taking a contemporary approach to lawmaking with an eye always on Virginia's future," Locke said.

Construction on the new General Assembly Building on Capitol Square at North Ninth and East Broad streets in Richmond is scheduled to be completed next year.

The General Assembly Building under construction is see from the VCU Children's Hospital of Richmond building that is also under construction Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

The state has projects underway: Old City Hall (left), the new Virginia General Assembly Building (center) and a parking deck (right). The state Capitol is seen behind Old City Hall.

Old City Hall, left, the new Virginia General Assembly Building, center and the new legislative parking deck, right, are seen in this panoramic photo of East Broad Street in Richmond, on Sept. 17. The Virginia state Capitol is seen behind Old City Hall.

Artist rendering of the parking deck at southwest corner of Ninth and Broad streets (right side), across Ninth Street from the planned General Assembly Building.

Rendering of the planned General Assembly Building from the view of 10th Street.

A rendering of a committee room inside the planned General Assembly Building.

Rendering of the cafe area of the planned General Assembly Building.

A rendering shows the entrance lobby of the planned General Assembly Building, which is expected to be completed by fall 2022.

Rendering of the first floor commons area in the General Assembly Building.

Workmen continue constrution of the new General Assembly Building at Capitol Square in Richmond, VA Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The traffic light and sign are at the nearby intersection of 9th and Grace Streets.

The General Assembly Building under construction is seen from the VCU Children's Hospital of Richmond building that is also under construction Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

The General Assembly Building under construction is see from the VCU Children's Hospital of Richmond building that is also under construction Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Old City Hall is under construction Monday, May 17, 2021. The new General Assembly building being constructed rises behind it.

The ground is being excavated on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 to make way for the new General Assembly Building parking deck.

The ground is being excavated on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, to make way for the new General Assembly Building parking deck. The new GA Building rises behind it on left.

The ground is being excavated on Friday, April 9, 2021 to make way for the new General Assembly Building parking deck. The new GA Building rises behind it on left.

The new General Assembly Building under construction at 9th and Broad Streets in Richmond, Va Friday,, March 5, 2021.

Workmem on scaffolding at the new General Assembly Building under construction at 9th and Broad Streets in Richmond, Va Friday,, March 5, 2021.

Workmem outside the new General Assembly Building under construction at 9th and Broad Streets in Richmond, Va Friday,, March 5, 2021.

The elevator shaft of the General Assembly Building rises above the Capitol Wed., Jan. 6, 2021.

The General Assembly building is under construction Saturday, June 6, 2020.

The statue of Suffragist Adele Clark at the Virginia Women's Memorial inside Capitol Square in Richmond, VA appears to be glancing at the new General Assembly Building , right, under construction Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020.

In August, scaffolding surrounded Old City Hall during renovation work as construction was underway on the new General Assembly Building (center left) downtown.

A worker on the General Assembly Building stops to watch the protest against Northam's new COVID restrictions. The protesters rallied on the corner of East Grace and North Ninth Streets across from Capitol Square Thursday, November 19, 2020.

Construction work continues at the General Assembly Building Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

Construction work continues at the General Assembly Building. Union officials have claimed that some of the project’s workers are being classified as independent contractors, which can affect taxes and overtime pay.

The General Assembly Building in downtown Richmond will be 14 stories.

A council of carpenters claims that about 60 workers on the General Assembly Building have been misclassified.

The 307-foot-tall crane that will be used to help construct the new Virginia General Assembly Building at Capitol Square in Richmond, VA Monday, June 24, 2019. Photographed from the City Hall observation deck.

A person looking out a window of the City Hall ovservation deck comes face-to-face with the 307-foot-tall crane that will be used to help construct the new Virginia General Assembly Building at Capitol Square in Richmond, VA Monday, June 24, 2019.

The 307-foot-tall crane that will be used to help construct the new Virginia General Assembly Building at Capitol Square in Richmond, VA Monday, June 24, 2019.

Contractors began working last week to raise a 307-foot-tall tower crane to assist with construction of the General Assembly Building. In mid-2020, the crane will be extended an added 30 feet. The building is set to be completed in 2021 and will keep its original façade from 1912.

The 105-year-old facade is all that remains of the former General Assembly Building at Ninth and East Broad streets. The historic wall, a design influenced by the 16th-century Venetian architect Andrea Palladio, spans six floors and has served as the inspiration for the replacement General Assembly Building. The new building will be 15 stories with a modern classical design.

A workman on a ladder attaches a cable to a beam of the old General Assembly Building, which is being torn down beside Capitol Square in Richmond, VA Friday, May 22, 2018. The building in the background is Richmond City Hall.

Work continues on the destruction of the former General Assembly building on Tuesday, May 8, 2018.

Workers are demolishing the General Assembly building piece by piece. This week, all that's left of the western portion of the building is the glass fascade facing Broad Street.

Demolition continues on the General Assembly Building beside the Virginia State Capitol, right, in Richmond, VA Thursday, April 26, 2018. The work of taking down and removing the building will continue into the summer and a replacement will be ready in 3-4 years.

Demolition continues on the General Assembly Building across from Richmond City Hall, left, in Richmond, VA Thursday, April 26, 2018. The work of taking down and removing the building will continue into the summer and a replacement will be ready in 3-4 years.

The shell of the General Assembly Building now undergoing demolition just outside Capitol Square in Ricmond, VA Friday, March 30, 2018. The building will be replaced with a new structure to house General Assembly members, staff and committees.

The decision to preserve the 1912 facade of the old General Assembly Building facing the Capitol added time and cost to the project. The scope of the project has been reduced to save money.

A photo (bottom part of frame) of part of the original General Assembly Building now undergoing demolition hangs on the construction fence just outside Capitol Square in Ricmond, VA Friday, March 30, 2018. The building will be replaced with a new structure to house General Assembly members, staff and committees.

A workman showers sparks as he cuts a steel beam inside the shell of the General Assembly Building now undergoing demolition just outside Capitol Square in Ricmond, VA Friday, March 30, 2018. The building will be replaced with a new structure to house General Assembly members, staff and committees.

Michael Martz (804) 649-6964

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Reporter

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