Rules

Tuesday, January 27, 2026·23m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia Rules Committee advanced a slate of bills unanimously before splitting on two contested measures: HB 1377, establishing a task force to review the Virginia Military Institute, passed 10-6 over objections from committee members and public witnesses, while HJR 34, a study on options for abolishing the car tax, passed 11-6. Two bills on aggregate air pollution and veterans services were continued to the 2027 session.

Key Actions

·HB 231 – Autism Advisory Council; name change; membership; staffing; powers and dutiesPassed

+ 12 more actions

Controversies

Whether a task force to review VMI is warranted (HB 1377)

Dr. Laura Poe testified that 'to even question its validity is appalling to me' and argued VMI 'is the commonwealth's only full time military college and its value must be evaluated based on its distinct mission, not civilian benchmarks.' Michael Denton, testifying in support of the study, countered by welcoming 'an honest, in depth, nuanced, intelligent, but mostly honest review of the opportunities that VMI gives to people who don't have a lot of privilege.' Delegate Ware stated 'I believe that this study would not be necessary and therefore I cannot support the measure.' Delegate Austin voted against the bill 'simply in principle' while simultaneously acknowledging that 'VMI has had its challenges in the past' and that 'mistakes [have been] made in the past at vmi.'

Notable Quotes

“Virginia Military Institute is not simply another public university, and you can certainly call me off whenever my time passes, but it is not another public university. It is the commonwealth's only full time military college and its value must be evaluated based on its distinct mission, not civilian benchmarks.”
Dr. Laura Poe — Dr. Poe, a professor at Longwood University and mother of a fourth-year VMI student, testified in opposition to HB 1377, which would establish a task force to review VMI.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Move the subcommittee substitute for House Bill 231No Vote

Move the subcommittee substitute for House Bill 433No Vote

Move the subcommittee substitute for House Bill 1188No Vote

Move the subcommittee substitute for House Bill 1377No Vote

Report and refer House Bill 231 to Appropriations (as substituted)Passed

Report block of bills: HB 264, HB 371, HB 431, HB 433 (as substituted), HB 544, HB 860, HB 1188 (as substituted), HJR 16, HJR 18, HR 4Passed

Report HB 1377 as substitutedPassed

Report HJR 34 as substituted (study on options for abolishing the car tax)Passed

Continue HB 607 and HB 26 to 2027 sessionNo Vote

Adjourn Rules CommitteeNo Vote

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TranscriptPreview

Rules Committee will come to order. Mr. Clerk will call a row. There you go. Clerk will close the row. Speaker, Mr. Speaker Corps is present. Looks like the docket that we have today came from the subcommittee on studies. I would hand this over to Delegate helmer. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair. Just going to take care of an administrative adoption of several substitutes before we do the voting so that we can have everything in the proper posture. So move the subcommittee substitute for House Bill 231. Second. Shall the substitute be agreed to? All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed? No. House Bill 231. Substitute is agreed to. House Bill 433. I move the subcommittee substitute. Second. Shall the committee substitute be agreed to for House Bill 433? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? No substitute is agreed to it. House Bill 433. I move the subcommittee substitute for House Bill 1188. Second, shall the substitute for House Bill 1188 be agreed to? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? No. House bill is agreed to. House Bill 1188. And finally, I move the…

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