General Laws

Tuesday, January 27, 2026·21m·▶ Watch / Listen

The General Laws Committee advanced a sweeping set of housing, cannabis, veterans, and workforce bills — including a comprehensive adult-use cannabis retail framework referred to Appropriations on a 19-2 vote and multiple tenant-protection measures that drew divided votes — while continuing a barbershop trainee bill to 2027 and referring six bills to other committees.

Key Actions

·HB910 – Referral to CourtsNo Vote

+ 19 more actions

Controversies

HB4 – Locality right of first refusal for affordable housing

The bill drew divided votes at both the subcommittee (7 to 3) and full committee (13 to 6) levels, indicating meaningful opposition, but no named speakers on either side of the disagreement were recorded in the transcript.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“As substituted, HB 642 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for adult use cannabis in the Commonwealth of Virginia, including rules for a retail market, penalties for violations and programs to address past harms from prohibition.”
Chair McClure — Chair McClure was presenting HB642 to the full committee after the subcommittee voted 7 to 0 to advance it with a substitute. The bill ultimately passed the full committee 19 to 2 and was referred to Appropriations.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Refer HB910 to CourtsPassed

Refer HB610, HB695, HB699 to Health and Human ServicesPassed

Refer HB647, HB1345 to EducationPassed

Report HB54 and refer to AppropriationsPassed

Report HB108 and refer to AppropriationsPassed

Report HB165Passed

Report HB354Passed

Report HB460Passed

Continue HB742 to 2027Passed

Report HB4Passed

Report HB14Passed

Report HB15Passed

Report HB39Passed

Report HB95Passed

Adopt substitute for HB170Passed

Report HB170, HB329, and HB356 (block vote)Passed

Adopt amendments to HB391Passed

Report HB391 with amendmentsPassed

Adopt substitute for HB642Passed

Report HB642 with substitute and refer to AppropriationsPassed

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TranscriptPreview

Bring the meeting into order. The clerk will call the roll. The clerk will close the roll. We have a quorum. All right. We have first order business. We have six bills to be re, referred or referred. I should say we have three blocks. The first block is just one bill. HB910, Delegate Shin. We're going to send this to courts. Do I have a motion? It's been moved in second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Okay, the bill is moved to courts. We have. The second one is a block that are all going to Health and Human Services. HB610, Delegate Anthony. HB695, Delegate Hayes. HB699, Delegate Zaire. And these are going to Health and Human Services. Do I have a motion? It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? Okay, this block is going to Health and Human Services. The final block are going to education. We have two bills, HB 647, Delegate Kent and HB 1345, Delegate Navarre. Do I have a motion? It's been moved in seconded. All those in favor signify saying aye. Opposed. Okay, they are going on to education. Now we have. Delegate…

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