Rules

Friday, March 6, 2026·24m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia Rules Committee advanced the bulk of its agenda unanimously, passing an uncontested block of more than a dozen bills and resolutions, while several contested measures — including bills on automatic voter registration, vulnerable road user safety zones, parole study, and Capitol Square statuary — each cleared at 12-6. The committee also advanced a resolution directing the Joint Rules Committee to plan a special commemorative session in Williamsburg on October 7, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of Virginia's first post-independence General Assembly.

Key Actions

·SB 801 – Repeal of state song emeritus designationPassed

+ 10 more actions

Controversies

SB 801 – Removal from uncontested block and subsequent split vote

A committee member whose identity was unclear pulled SB 801 — which repeals the state song emeritus designation of 'Carry Me Back to Old Virginny' — from the uncontested block without stating a reason. The bill subsequently passed 16-2, the only item in the original uncontested block to receive 'no' votes, indicating some opposition among committee members.

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“H.A. 203 directs the joint rules committee to develop plans for a special commemorative session in Williamsburg on October 7, 2026, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of Virginia's General Assembly's first meeting following our nation's independence.”
Delegate Terry L. Austin — Delegate Austin was presenting HJR 203, which would direct the Joint Rules Committee to plan a special session in Williamsburg marking the 250th anniversary of Virginia's first post-independence General Assembly meeting.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Report uncontested block (HJR 116, HR 139, SB 43, SB 196, SB 214, SB 251, SB 260, SB 280, SB 384, SB 447, SB 450, SB 498, SB 515, SB 682, SJR 12, SJR 23, SJR 56, SJR 59) with amendments and substitutes as appropriatePassed

Report SB 801Passed

Report SB 223 with substitutePassed

Report SB 276 with substitutePassed

Report SB 658 with substitutePassed

Report SB 832Passed

Report SJR 26Passed

Report SB 285 and SB 757 (with substitute) and refer to Committee on AppropriationsPassed

Report SB 636 as amended and refer to Committee on AppropriationsPassed

Report HJR 203 as substitutedPassed

Report SJR 111 as amendedPassed

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TranscriptPreview

Rules of committee will come to order. We'll call the roll, Mr. Clerk. Close the roll. Mr. Chair, you have quorum. I think we're going to begin with the study subcommittee report. I think that was Delegate Hellman. We'll go through those bills. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a few blocks of bills here. Block 1 has a number of study subcommittees that were uncontested. House Joint Resolution 116. House Resolution 139. Senate Bill 43. Senate Bill 196. Senate Bill 214. Senate Bill 251, which was recommended to report with amendments. Senate Bill 260. Senate Bill 280, which is recommended reporting with a substitute. Senate Bill 384. Senate Bill 447, which was recommended reporting with a substitute. Senate bill 450. Senate Bill 498. Senate Bill 515, which was recommended reporting with a substitute. Senate Bill 682. Senate Bill 801. Senate Joint Resolution 12. Senate Joint Resolution 23. Senate Joint Resolution 56. Senate Joint Resolution 59. All of those were uncontested votes. I don't know if anybody wanted to pull anything out of the block. If they do. Mr. Chair, go ahead. I think there's. Can I move the substitutes and amendments? Those. Do we need to do…

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