Virginia Government

Youngkin kicks off bill signings with economic development

VPM | By Jahd Khalil

Published March 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM EDT

This story was reported and written by VPM News.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin began rolling out his actions on this year’s statehouse legislation with signatures on economic development bills, combining the announcement with messaging aimed at those concerned with threats to jobs posed by changes by the federal government.

“Job loss is real. It's hard, and that's why, at a time where we are going to see some job loss in Virginia, we are able to meet that loss with strength,” Youngkin said Tuesday at an event before press and staff.

Youngkin said he signed 180 bills including legislation that would provide funding for a semiconductor project in Manassas, a battery separator company in Danville and legislation that broadens the availability of economic development funding.

He also said he would be proposing incremental funding in his budget amendments to business ready sites. The budget being considered by the governor has an additional $20 million for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program that he — and the House of Delegates — had proposed.

Youngkin repeated a message from an event in Virginia Beach on Tuesday: that Virginia would see job loss, which he was empathic towards, but Virginia’s economy has jobs to offer many of those workers.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield gives remarks to members of the press on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Virginia.

“Of course, someone who loses their job in the federal government may not match perfectly to a job opportunity, and I recognize that,” he said “That is part of what's causing, I think, some real concern and anxiety on behalf of some of the federal workforce.”

Speaking to reporters after the event, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D–Chesterfield) said voters are telling her that they have concerns about cuts in the federal workforce and affordability issues facing workers.

“They're concerned about the lack of affordable housing, the lack of effective public transportation, and the very limited access to high-quality child care, those are the issues that are facing working families, and the governor never speaks to those concerns,” she said.

Youngkin went into the week having vetoed 242 bills during his term, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project, which said it was a record amount. He still has over 800 bills to consider.

“There are a lot of familiar bills that I'll be vetoing, and there are a lot of bills that I'm trying to work to make better,” said Youngkin.

Much of the legislation going to Youngkin is a second attempt by a Democratic-controlled General Assembly to pass its priorities: legal protections for abortion and contraception access, a higher minimum wage, new firearm regulations and expanded access for labor organizing.

The deadline for Youngkin to veto, sign, or amend bills is Monday. The legislature will consider his actions on April 2.
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