Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources Sub

Wednesday, February 11, 2026·48m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee advanced a major paid family and medical leave program, a clean energy innovation bank, and a SWaM procurement codification bill while tabling measures on wildlife license exemption reimbursement, oyster stock assessments, a content creator grant fund, and a brownfield renewable energy grant increase — with most contested votes splitting 5 to 2 along apparent partisan lines.

Key Actions

·HB 1207 – Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance ProgramNo Vote

+ 11 more actions

Controversies

HB 45 – Indeterminate general fund cost of wildlife license exemption reimbursement

The chair argued the fiscal impact is indeterminate, stating 'we don't know how much money that is' and calling it 'an indeterminate general fund cost.' Sponsor Hyland F. 'Buddy' Fowler, Jr. countered that 'right now the cost is zero' and that the bill does not take effect until July 1, 2026, expressing hope the cost would remain zero. The bill was nonetheless tabled 5 to 2.

+ 1 more controversy

Notable Quotes

“Committee on Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources to order. Our first order of business is House Bill 45. I see delegate Fowler. I'm sorry, we're going to do roll call real quick. Clerk, open the roll. Clerk will close the roll. We have a quorum. We all hear Delegate Fowler. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, , we have a motion. No, I'm just kidding. Go ahead, Mr. Chairman. Somebody up there has to make a”
Hyland F. 'Buddy' Fowler, Jr. — Fowler was explaining the problem HB 45 is designed to address — that General Assembly license exemptions come at a direct cost to the Department of Wildlife Resources, which receives no general fund money.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Table HB 45 – DWR License Exemption Revenue AccountingPassed

Report HB 61 – SWaM Procurement Enhancement ProgramPassed

Report HB 260 as substituted – Prevailing Wage for Underground InfrastructurePassed

Report HB 597 – Wildlife Corridor Grant FundPassed

Table HB 599 – Oyster Stock Assessment SchedulePassed

Report HB 527 – Eviction Reduction Program CodificationPassed

Report HB 1320 as substituted – Unemployment Benefit $48 IncreasePassed

Report HB 1444 as amended – Virginia Clean Energy and Innovation BankPassed

Report HB 590 as substituted – Smart Solar Permitting PlatformPassed

Report HB 1207 as substituted – Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance ProgramPassed

Table HB 1248 – Creative Economy Grant ProgramPassed

Report HB 672 as amended – State Energy and Water Conservation StandardsPassed

Report HB 675 – Prohibition on Employer Coercion Based on Immigration StatusPassed

Table HB 698 – Department of Workforce Development FoundationPassed

Report HB 895 – Energy Storage ProjectsPassed

Table HB 1098 – Brownfield Renewable Energy Grant IncreasePassed

Report HB 374 as amended – Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act ItemizationPassed

Table HB 1038 – Virginia Student Environmental Literacy Plan Grant FundPassed

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TranscriptPreview

Committee on Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources to order. Our first order of business is House Bill 45. I see delegate Fowler. I'm sorry, we're going to do roll call real quick. Clerk, open the roll. Clerk will close the roll. We have a quorum. We all hear Delegate Fowler. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, you know, we have a motion. No, I'm just kidding. Go ahead, Mr. Chairman. Somebody up there has to make a motion. But Anyway, you know, Mr. Chairman, about half of Virginia hunters are exempted from having to purchase, you know, hunting fishing licenses or other outdoor licenses. And Mr. Chairman, you know, that's really because over the years, you know, the General assembly has just decided to give away a lot of free licenses to folks. And of course, and I guess that's a nice gesture, you know, but the problem with that is, you know, that money's coming directly out of Department of Wildlife Resources. And so, and again, you know, they, as you know, they don't get general fund money here or anything else. So in any way. So what we're trying to do, and this is What House Bill…

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