Committee reports dozens of bills to the Senate floor; tally of actions and outcomes

The Senate committee met Feb. 14 in Richmond and acted on scores of bills across public safety, health and human resources, general government and other dockets, returning many to the full Senate with committee recommendations.

Why it matters: The committee’s votes set which bills move to floor consideration, which are shifted to budget review, and which are held for further study. Several votes carried unanimous or near-unanimous committee support; a few measures drew divided tallies or were passed by for later budget consideration.

Key actions and recorded outcomes (committee roll calls and voice results as recorded in the committee transcript):

- SB 919 (transportation worker pay/benefits parity when transit commissions contract with private companies): reported to the floor; recorded vote: Ayes 10, Noes 5. - SB 1202 (tax-exempt property; amendments struck second enactment clause): reported as amended; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1188 (licensure pathway for qualified international professionals; regulatory board direction): reported to the floor; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1060 (retail tobacco products; substitute restoring confiscation provision and shifting inspection/enforcement provisions): reported as amended; recorded vote: Ayes 14, Noes 0, 1 abstention. - SB 882 (licensing certified anesthesiologist assistants): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 14, Noes 0, 1 abstention. - SB 1120 (establish commission on women’s health): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0 (later reconsidered and reported with substitute Ayes 15, Noes 0). - SB 1472 (revenue reserves / rainy day fund adjustments): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1474 (six-year financial plan – governor must include alternative revenue estimates): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1270 (deed-fraud technical advisory group): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1041 (Virginia Forensic Nursing Advisory Council; substitute agreed): reported with substitute; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1483 (regulating hemp products and temporary events — public safety subcommittee): recommended and reported; recorded: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 936 (operational and fiscal work group for Department of Corrections; substitute adopted): reported with substitute; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1108 (restriction on adults convicted of certain offenses proximity to playgrounds/state parks): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1251 (veteran identification/workgroup to assist corrections/jails): committee substitute adopted and reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 877 (post-release job search assistance; amendment adding "from such funds as available"): reported with amendment; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 1272 (increased penalties for unmanned aircrafts over corrections facilities and critical infrastructure): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 746 (felony homicide changes related to fentanyl): subcommittee made no recommendation; recorded committee tally on final motion: Ayes 12, Noes 1, 2 abstentions; the transcript notes the bill is voided. - SB 1271 (class 6 felony for communicating written threats; electronic media included): reported; recorded vote: Ayes 13, Noes 0, 2 abstentions. - SB 1277 (guardian ad litem appointment when minor witness testifies in certain proceedings): reported with substitute; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - SB 939 (mail theft definitions clarified via substitute): reported with substitute; recorded vote: Ayes 15, Noes 0. - A slate of health and human resources measures: several were reported with substitutes or amendments (SB 1186 donor human milk; SB 981 one-time reporting on community health workers; SB 1101 post-traumatic/veteran suicide council substitute; SB 875 pharmacy benefits manager amendments); where the committee recommended PBI (pass by for the day) those measures were sent to budget review (examples: SB 980, SB 1273, SB 1451, SB 1214, SB 1227, SB 1236, SB 1129 among others). - Education, resources and general government bills: numerous measures were reported, passed by for the day for budget consideration, or PBI’d (examples include SB 1217 intercollegiate athletics substitute and report; SB 1283 private management at DOC substitute; SB 797 Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (passed by for the day); SB 1003 school breakfast no-cost pilot PBI to budget; and many more listed on the committee docket).

Notes on vote procedures and next steps: Several items were recorded as "pass by for the day" (PBI) for budget consideration; committee substitutes were commonly adopted on measures before reporting; some items went to other subcommittees for further work or letters to agencies (for example, DMAS questions or federal waiver feasibility). Bills recorded as reported move to the full Senate docket; PBI items are held for budget or additional staff work.

This roundup lists recorded committee actions and outcomes as stated on the committee record. Individual bills contain additional amendments or committee substitutes; members frequently noted that substitutes or amendments would be included in the reported versions.