Senate committee disposes of broad slate of bills; key votes and committee actions

The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee considered a large slate of bills and recorded committee actions across multiple policy areas including energy, education, health, procurement, criminal justice and local government priority items.

Most bills that appeared on the committee’s tables were either reported out with a roll call or voice vote, amended and reported, or recommended to be passed by indefinitely (PBI). Committee clerks recorded the outcomes throughout the hearing; the list below captures the bills specifically discussed and the committee’s recorded disposition.

Votes at a glance (committee actions as recorded in the hearing):

- House Joint Resolution 448 — study of Department of Environmental Quality tax policy options related to litter tax: reported (voice/roll call reported: yes 8, no 4 recorded as "Eyes 8, Nose 4"). - House Joint Resolution 497 — reestablish joint commission to oversee retail cannabis transition: reported (voice vote recorded). - House Bill 2140 / related campaign‑finance database bill (HB2140 / HB2140 series) — requires searchable DB at Dept. of Elections with delayed effective date 07/01/2026: reported to interim (substitute motion PBI on one procedural motion; record indicates committee disposition consistent with reporting rules). - House Bill 2482 — procurement safety training/apprenticeship requirements for capital outlay projects (VPAT/Procurement): reported (ayes 9, noes 4 recorded). - House Bill 1963 — Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program expansions: motion to pass by indefinitely carried (PBI recorded). - House Bill 1995 / committee substitute — private and out‑of‑state postsecondary courses exemption study (Council of Higher Education for Virginia evaluation): committee substitute agreed and reported (ayes 14, no 0). - House Bill 2091 — Department of Workforce Development and Advancement powers and duties: passed by indefinitely (PBI recorded: ayes 13, no 1). - House Bill 2088 — forensic nursing advisory council and telehealth forensic exam authority: reported (ayes 14, no 0). - House Bill 2341 — culturally responsive and language‑appropriate mental health guidance for schools (DOE guidance): reported (ayes 10, no 4). - House Bill 2594 — security standards/training for certain nonprofit institutions; committee substitute reported (ayes 14, no 0). - House Joint Resolution 443 / HJ443 — joint subcommittee to study consolidation and rescheduling of elections to even‑numbered years: conformed to SJ253 and reported (ayes 10, no 4). - House Bill 1830 — included in subcommittee report. - House Bill 1782 / newborn screening (federal RUSP evaluation by lab services): reported with substitute (ayes 14, no 0). - House Bill 2125 — state internship coordinator (DHRM): passed by indefinitely (PBI recorded: ayes 12, no 2). - House Bill 2537 — energy storage targets and model ordinances (conformed to SB1394): reported as conformed (ayes 10, no 4). - House Bill 2550 — noise abatement monitoring systems: committee adopted a substitute converting the bill into a study for the State Crime Commission and reported with substitute (ayes 10, no 4). - House Bill 274 — automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) — reported as amended (vote recorded: ayes 11, noes 2, 1 abstention). - House Bill 2049 / AquaCon Reservoir PFAS monitoring (HB2050) — reported (ayes 13, no 1); committee discussion cited potential $385 million capital cost for utilities absent source reduction. - House Bill 2306 — Loudoun County property to evaluate state park option via finance work group — committee adopted substitute and reported (ayes 12, no 0, 2 abstentions).

Also reported or acted on (selection from table): many additional bills across education, health, veterans, criminal justice, and energy were recorded as reported with committee substitutes, reported as amended, or PBI in the hearing record; committee clerks opened roll calls and recorded tallies for each as they were moved on the floor. Where the transcript recorded a formal roll call, the committee’s numerical tallies are noted above.

What this means next: Bills reported by the committee move toward floor consideration and may require further amendments, budget allocations, or agency rulemaking to implement. Items passed by indefinitely (PBI) are held in committee for the session; sponsors may still pursue related budget language or future committee reconsideration.

Selected next steps: several bills that were converted to studies (for example, HB2306 and the noise‑monitoring substitute) will generate work groups or commission reports; committee sponsors said they expect follow‑up meetings and potential budget requests based on study findings.