House adopts budget and dozens of conference reports, including PBM, utilities and collective bargaining measures

The Virginia House of Delegates on Feb. 22 adopted the conference report on the biennial budget, House Bill 1,600, and approved dozens of other conference reports finalizing legislation for the 2025 session.

The budget conference report was presented on the floor and the House voted to adopt it after conferees said the package addressed House priorities while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Delegate Torrey, who spoke for the floor on the budget conference report, thanked conferees and staff before moving adoption of the report.

Why it matters: Adoption of conference reports completes negotiations between the House and Senate and sends final language to the governor. The bills approved on the floor that day included measures touching state spending, health-care program administration, utility regulation and several criminal-justice and administrative reforms.

What passed and how: The House disposed of a long printed calendar of conference reports. Several measures received little floor debate and were approved largely on voice votes or quick recorded tallies; others drew floor remarks from patrons and conferees outlining key compromises. Notable actions included:

- Adoption of the conference report on House Bill 1,600 (biennial budget). Conferees said the report addresses House priorities; the House adopted the conference report by recorded vote (Ayes 81, Noes 18).

- House Bill 26 10 / Senate bill cognates (Pharmacy Benefits Manager for Medicaid): The House adopted the conference report that creates a state-contracted pharmacy benefits manager for Medicaid with a phased implementation and study provisions; the House recorded the vote (Ayes 95, Noes 2).

- House Bill 26 21 / Senate cognates (Phase 1 utilities, securitized storm costs and customer protections): The House adopted a multi-part…