Virginia House advances wide slate of bills, adopts conference reports and Senate amendments

RICHMOND — The Virginia House of Delegates spent a multi-hour floor session on a block of House bills carrying Senate amendments or substitutes across a range of policy areas, adopting many changes and approving three conference reports that affect flood preparedness, records access and transportation borrowing authority.

Most of the chamber’s action was procedural: sponsors explained Senate changes to their bills and asked the House to accept or reject those amendments. The House agreed to amendments on measures addressing energy and utilities, student discipline and graduation requirements, school safety and accountability measures, and criminal justice topics. Members also approved a high-dollar transportation revenue bond measure in conference and adopted a conference report that expands eligibility for a flood-preparedness grant fund to include federally and state-recognized tribes.

Why it matters: The session packaged many technical and policy changes that will affect state agencies’ rulemaking and local implementation — from guidance for utilities and school divisions to statutory clarifications for public-safety and civil-procedural rules. Passage of the Commonwealth Transportation conference report clears the way for the Commonwealth Transportation Board to issue revenue bonds to fund special-structure repairs and replacements.

The House accepted Senate amendments or substitutes on a large number of bills; some substitutes were rejected when members preferred to send the bills to conference with the Senate. Several measures drew little floor debate and were decided by roll-call tallies; others were held for further negotiation.

Votes at a glance (bill — subject — House action — recorded tally if provided)

- House Bill 18 21 — Electric utilities / renewable energy buyers & storage — Senate amendments agreed to — Ayes 52, Noes 46.

- House Bill 18 24 — High school graduation substitutions for…