Virginia budget deal leans on data-center electricity tax, seeds inland port and education ties

Virginia's budget deal preserves data-center incentives but imposes a new electricity tax on their power use (capped at $600M/year), funds an inland port in Washington County, expands the healthcare workforce (including an expansion of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine), and authorizes a GMU–Averett partnership, while also funding a Roanoke Onzlee Ware statue, allowing local school tax referendums, supporting housing and infrastructure projects (I-81 acceleration, Coalfields Expressway improvements), providing money to demolish the Richmond Coliseum, boosting tourism, and laying groundwork for cannabis retail sales beginning in 2027.