RICHMOND, VA — Today, Equality Virginia released the following statement after the passage of the Virginia House and Senate Budget Bills (House Bill 30 and Senate Bill 30), each including amendments to partially restore Ryan White Part B funding.
“We are pleased that the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate recognize the urgent need to restore funding to Virginia’s community-based organizations that provide Ryan White services to people living with HIV ,” said Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia. “Last year’s $20 million cut to Ryan White Part B funding placed Virginia’s HIV safety net under extraordinary strain and these amendments ensure the state is taking a first step in righting this wrong.”
In 2025, a 67% reduction severely destabilized HIV services across the Commonwealth. Ryan White Part B funding supports HIV medical care, medications, and essential support services for low-income Virginians living with HIV. The 2025 reduction forced providers to scale back prevention, treatment access, and wraparound services that help patients remain in care and prevent transmission.
“While these amendments aren’t a full restoration of what community-based organizations lost, this marks a critical step toward stabilizing care for thousands of Virginians living with HIV,” Rahaman continued. “We appreciate lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who recognized the urgency of this moment and will work to ensure funding remains in the final version signed by the Governor.”
Both chambers must now reconcile differences between their budget proposals before final adoption. Equality Virginia will continue working with lawmakers throughout the conference process to ensure this funding remains in the adopted state budget.
About Equality Virginia
Equality Virginia (EV) is a 501(c)3 organization that advocates and organizes across Virginia to build a future where all LGBTQ+ people thrive.
Media Contact:
Reed Williams, at press@equalityvirginia.org