The Virginia House of Delegates just released its final draft of the 2026 budget. Buried in a civil war on data centers, lifting marijuana restrictions, and giving themselves a 150% pay raise, Democrats are also seeking to spend millions on DEI tourism.

Virginia legislators are busy working out the 2026 budget. After months of back and forth with the state Senate and the governor, the Democrat-controlled Legislature released its budget proposal Friday evening, 100 days late.

Buried in the 600-page proposal, which cost taxpayers $50,000 to craft, is a marketing provision that seeks to promote non-white travel to Virginia.

Data Centers have "worn out their welcome" in Virginia @GlenSturtevant tells @DailySignal.
House Democrats and Gov. Spanberger want to cut big tech/AI firms a $20 billion check this fiscal year. Sturtevant says it is Virginians who will pay the ultimate price. pic.twitter.com/rRBsZM0jPT

— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) June 15, 2026

The item, titled “Establish a Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic Communities Marketing Campaign,” aims to spend $4 million to develop a marketing campaign to attract out-of-state visitors from those minority communities.

It directs $2 million in fiscal year 2026–2027 and another $2 million in fiscal year 2027–2028. If passed, the money will come from the general fund of the Virginia Tourism Authority. The agency will launch a media campaign to bring travelers from black, Indigenous, and Hispanic communities to the state.

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“I’m disappointed and concerned about the emphasis on spending for demographic-specific ads,” Del. Anne Ferrell Tata, a Republican representing Virginia Beach, told the Daily Signal.

“Virginia Beach should be open to everyone, and a campaign that invites all potential visitors could be more effective,” she continued.

🚨BE WARNED: New Virginia law permits artificial intelligence cameras at stop signs & crosswalks for enforcement.

The law takes effect July 1. You can find a summary of the law here:https://t.co/TzISldB55f

WAVY TV 10's Karina Garcia has more details: pic.twitter.com/vEaYFm707v

— Virginia News Vanguard (@VaNewsVanguard) June 22, 2026

In an earlier version of this proposal, lawmakers proposed $1.5 million each year. Instead of rethinking the fairness of the campaign, Democrats doubled the spending.

A spending increase is a trend in this two-year, $214.1 billion budget—and an increase of $26 billion from when Republicans controlled the state from 2024 to 2026.

Virginia’s official tourism campaign is branded as “Virginia is for Lovers.”

This isn’t the only DEI tourism push Democrats proposed in the two-year budget. They also aim to give $1 million to an event company that is planning to open a nonprofit museum dedicated to black women.

The Museum of Black Women Innovators is a few months behind on its opening but, according to its website, plans to open soon while continuing to “raise funds.”

The explanation in the budget reads, “This amendment provides $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support the Museum of Black Women Innovators.”