Virginia House advances multiple bills, including speed-assist pilot and tobacco-surcharge repeal

RICHMOND — The Virginia House of Delegates on Jan. 21 approved a slate of bills spanning transportation safety, insurance consumer protections, school regulation changes and other matters, and advanced several more to third reading. One bill addressing a statutory right to contraception was taken "by for the day."

The actions came during a lengthy calendar call and roll votes in the chamber, where members agreed to committee substitutes and floor amendments on multiple measures and voted to engross and pass bills to third reading or final passage. Several bills were adopted unanimously or with large majorities; contested measures produced recorded tallies on the floor.

Why it matters: The measures affect a range of everyday services and regulatory standards in the Commonwealth — from a pilot program that would allow some convicted speeding drivers to keep driving under monitored conditions to changes to insurance and education regulations — and many of the bills proceed to later stages where committees or the Senate will consider them.

Key flo…