Appropriations

Friday, February 13, 2026·42m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia House Appropriations Committee advanced dozens of bills across education, gaming, labor, health, and energy policy, including contested measures to authorize internet gaming (14-8), establish a paid family and medical leave program with an estimated $75 million startup cost (15-7), legalize skill games with a 30% tax (13-9), and allow collective bargaining for state employees (15-7), while carrying over or striking several other bills.

Key Actions

·HB 161 – Internet Gaming AuthorizationPassed

+ 12 more actions

Controversies

Procedural dispute over HB 613 substitute adoption

After an initial vote on HB 613 was recorded as 15 to 17, Delegate Herring invoked the right of a member on the prevailing side to move reconsideration, specifically so the committee could separately vote on adoption of the substitute before reporting the bill. The presiding officer conducted a voice vote on reconsideration and substitute adoption, followed by a new recorded vote of 15 to 7.

+ 1 more controversy

Notable Quotes

“Mr. Chair, having voted on the prevailing side on which we passed HB613, I request that we reconsider the vote so we can vote on adoption of the substitute.”
Delegate Herring — After an initial vote on HB 613 (Teacher Recruitment and Retention Mentorship Pilot Program) was recorded as 15 to 17, Delegate Herring invoked procedural rights to force a separate vote on adoption of the substitute, which ultimately resulted in the bill passing 15 to 7.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 161 with substitute (internet gaming, 20% tax)Passed

Report HB 1272 with substitute (skills game bill, 30% tax)Passed

Report HB 1207 with substitute (paid family and medical leave, ~$75M startup)Passed

Report HB 1263 with substitute (collective bargaining for state employees)Passed

Report HB 613 with substitute (teacher mentorship pilot) — second vote after reconsiderationPassed

Report HB 298 (restorative disciplinary practices)Passed

Report HB 897 with substitute (data center operators)Passed

Report HB 1046 with HB 850 incorporated (apprenticeship requirements)Passed

Report HB 193 (parole eligibility for jury-sentenced individuals)Passed

Report HB 1393 with substitute (Dominion Energy weatherization programs)Passed

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TranscriptPreview

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our House Appropriations Committee meeting. Clerk, would you open the roll, please? Okay. Thank you. All right, Tony, we'll begin with you. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there are five bills in committee that the patrons have requested to be stricken. They are House Bill 471, House Bill 1085, House Bill 1121, House Bill 1245 and House Bill 1306. Move to strike the bill bills. It's been moved. And second, that the said bills be stricken. This is a recorded vote. Members, please cast your vote. Clerk can close the roll. Those bills are stricken at 22 to 0. Tony. The next bill's chairman is the higher education subcommittee. It is House Bill 430. Delegate lever Bolling. This makes changes to the new College Institute. It changes the name of the institute to the West Piedmont Higher Education Center. And then it makes several revisions to the membership of the board. Second, it's been moving. Second, that we report. House Bill 430. Members, please cast your vote. The bill reports 22 to 0. Mr. Chair, beginning the K12 subcommittee report. The first bill is House Bill 298 from Del. McQueen. This requires schools…

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