Data Center Tax Break Pushes Virginia Budget Talks Over Deadline

Virginia lawmakers remain at an impasse over whether to maintain the state’s $1.6 billion data center sales tax exemption, as talks to reach a two-year budget deal go down to the wire.

The Democrat-controlled legislature’s Senate has proposed ending the tax break for data centers, while the House of Delegates is seeking to extend the program but add restrictions.

Virginia lawmakers failed to announce a reconciled budget by a legislative deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday that would have given them the required 48 hours to read the bill before voting on it. The current legislative session is scheduled to adjourn ...