Virginia Senate agrees to memorial resolution, concurs with House changes on two bills and dispenses with readings on dozens of House measures

RICHMOND — The Virginia Senate on Feb. 11, 2025, suspended its rules to take up House Joint Resolution 593 honoring Diana Lee Creasy, agreed to the resolution, and recorded roll-call votes to concur with House changes on two Senate bills and to dispense with readings on multiple uncontested House measures.

Senators voted 38-0 to suspend the rules and take up House Joint Resolution 593, which the chamber then agreed to by unanimous consent. Senator Cyphers, the senator from Prince Edward, moved to suspend the rules so the resolution could be considered immediately. The clerk read the resolution’s title as "House joint resolution number 593 celebrating the life of Diana Lee Creasy." The resolution was agreed to without recorded opposition.

The Senate also concurred with a House substitute to Senate Bill 811. "The house substitute just adds technical language to clarify existing law as requested by ABC, and that is the bill," Senator Rouse, the junior senator from Virginia Beach, told the chamber before moving to concur. The motion to concur passed on a roll call, 37 ayes to 1 nay.

On another bill, the Senate concurred with a House amendment to Senate Bill 815. Senator Rouse said the amendment "simply adds to the bill, to landlords with more than just 4 rental units." The motion to concur carried, with a recorded tally of 28 ayes and 11 noes; the president announced the Senate concurred.

The body also approved procedural motions to dispense with the second reading of titles and to pass a large set of uncontested House bills "by for the day." On the regular uncontested calendar (pages 7–21, House bills 1593–2768), senators voted 40-0 to suspend the rules and dispense with second-reading of titles, and then the clerk announced those bills would "go by for the day." On the supplemental uncontested calendar (pages 1–11, House bills 1600–2531), the chamber again voted 40-0 to dispense with second reading and moved those bills by for the day.

Earlier routine votes included waiving the reading of the Senate journal for the prior session (vote recorded as 35 ayes, 5 noes) and waiving the reading of communications from the House of Delegates (recorded as 35 ayes, 4 noes).

Several members made announcements about committee meetings and caucus schedules; Senator Sarravel reminded colleagues to explain the substance of amendments or conference reports before votes at this point in session, saying it is important senators "explain the substance of what you're doing and why." The clerk also announced committee and subcommittee meeting times for the remainder of the day and the next morning.

Votes at a glance

- HJR 593 (celebrating Diana Lee Creasy): rules suspended 38-0; resolution agreed to (unanimous). - Senate Bill 811 (House substitute adds technical language requested by ABC): Senate concurred with House substitute; vote 37 ayes, 1 nay. - Senate Bill 815 (House amendment expanding coverage to landlords with more than four rental units): Senate concurred with amendment; vote 28 ayes, 11 noes. - Uncontested calendar — House bills (pages 7–21; HB 1593–HB 2768): second-reading dispensed, vote 40-0; bills went by for the day. - Supplemental uncontested calendar — House bills (pages 1–11; HB 1600–HB 2531): second-reading dispensed, vote 40-0; bills went by for the day. - Waive reading of journal: vote recorded 35 ayes, 5 noes (reading of the journal waived). - Waive reading of communications from the House of Delegates: vote recorded 35 ayes, 4 noes (reading waived).

No policy debate or amendments beyond brief descriptions were recorded on the floor for the bills listed above; the actions were procedural or concurrence votes to accept House edits. The clerk and presiding officer announced committee meetings and caucus schedules following the votes. The Senate adjourned and scheduled session to reconvene at 12 noon the following day.