The legislature for the Commonwealth of Virginia is expected to adjourn on Saturday, ending a session whose beginning was delayed by a water crisis in Richmond.
Delegates and Senators have been busy this week. On Tuesday morning, 1,425 bills had passed the House of Delegates. That number was up to 1,723 this morning The Senate has been just as productive in that time period from 1,046 to 1,418.
Hundreds of these bills are uncontroversial resolutions to express support for various individuals, organizations, concepts, and occasions. One of these is to recognize Virginia History Day, a program of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture that culminates in an academic contest for students in grades four through 12. This year’s theme is Rights and Responsibilities in History.
HJ695 was approved by the House of Delegates on a voice vote on February 18 and awaits action in the Senate.
This week has seen more legislation sent to Governor Youngkin’s desk for action. For instance, a bill from Delegate Marcus Simon (D-13) would make it a Class 6 felony to place a Nazi swastika in a public place or on a highway with the intent of intimidation. This amends existing law and also adds a disclaimer that the use of the symbol by some religions is not included. This passed the Senate with 36 ayes vote on February 14 and the House on February 18 with 97 ayes.
Land use and housing
- HB2037 would allow localities to add language to their land development ordinance to require applicants to install solar canopies over parking lots with more than 100 spaces. This passed the House of Delegates on a 64 to 32 vote. The Senate adopted an amended bill on Februay 12 on a 21 to 18 vote. The House agreed to those amendments on February 14 on a 62 to 34 vote.
- HB2781 which would give Prince William County the same power Albemarle County has to adopt policies to require developers to designate some units as affordable. Technically the legislation would allow all localities with the County Executive form of government to have this power, and there are only two. This passed the House of Delegates on a 71 to 25 on February 4 and the senate on February 17 on a 23 to 16 vote.
- HB2744 would state the official policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia is to reduce heating costs for low-income residents and require Appalachian Power Company and Dominion Energy to assist. This passed the House on February 4 on a 67 to 31 vote and the Senate on a 22 to 18 vote on February 19.
- HB2533 would clarify that comprehensive plans in all localities can recommend policies to allow tiny homes and accessory dwelling units. This passed the House with 96 ayes on January 30 and the Senate on a 25 to 13 vote on February 12. The House agreed to the Senate’s amendments on February 14.
Governance
- HB2165 would prohibit the use of campaign finance revenue to be converted for personal use. This passed the House on February 4 with 97 ayes and the Senate on February 19 with a unanimous vote of all 40 Senators.
- HB2764 would lift a prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. This passed the House on February 4 on a 51 to 46 vote and the Senate on February 19 on a a 21 to 19 vote.
- HB2668 would allow Electoral Boards across Virginia to remove one of their members on a ⅔ vote after a public hearing on the matter, and allow an Electoral Board to dismiss the registrar on a unanimous vote after a public hearing. In Virginia, these bodies all have three members. This passed the House of Delegates on February 4 and the Senate on a 21 to 15 vote.
- HB2517 would allow institutes of higher education to be example from permitting requirements if they want to apply sewage sludge on their own land for the purposes of a research project. This passed the House on an 82 to 17 vote on February 4 and the Senate passed an amended version on February 14 with 36 ayes. The House agreed to those amendments on a 94 to 3 vote on February 18.
- HB2056 would allow localities to set up satellite offices for absentee voting. This passed the House on a 53 to 45 vote on February 4 and the Senate on a 21 to 14 vote on February 14.
- HB2531 would require the Virginia Employment Commission to set up a paid family and medical leave program. This passed the House on February 4 on a 51 to 47 vote and the Senate on February 12 on a 21 to 18 vote
The next such report will come out after the General Assembly adjourns. There’s a lot of other sources out there for such report. Share the one you like?
Before you go: This story and all of the others on this site are produced by Town Crier Productions, a media company created in 2020 to write stories about local and regional government. This story first went out in the February 20. 2025 edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement. Most of the time stories are published there first and then posted here, but sometimes they’re posted here first. All of this is an experiment and I’m grateful you are reading it! Click on links for other articles and try to check out the primary sources!
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