Virginia House advances and passes a broad slate of bills on education, health and gaming

The Virginia House of Delegates on Jan. 27, 2026, moved and approved a large group of bills addressing schools, health care, transportation and gaming policy and adopted memorial resolutions honoring two community members. Lawmakers also recorded roll-call tallies on multiple third‑reading bills and advanced many second‑reading items to the regular calendar or to third reading.

The day's most consequential roll-call votes came on a block of third‑reading measures. The clerk recorded 'Ayes, 99; No 0' on the uncontested third‑reading block that included House bills 175 and 176, registering passage. Individual roll-call tallies recorded during the session included: HB 38 (school mental‑health training and instruction) — Ayes 68, Nos 31; HB 116 (school board employee grievance timing) — Ayes 93, No 6; HB 171 (student instruction, internet safety) — Ayes 75, No 24; HB 199 (board of education assessment alternatives) — Ayes 92, No 6; HB 206 (college partnership laboratory school transparency) — Ayes 73, Nos 25; HB 210 (school meal debt annual report) — Ayes 89, Nos 10; HB 282 (real property tax classification for Charlottesville/Falls Church) — Ayes 91, Nos 8; HB 288 (Department of Education posting of structural resources) — Ayes 86, Nos 12; HB 334 (local sales/use tax for schools referendum) — Ayes 70, Nos 28; HB 341 (plastic bag tax distribution) — Ayes 67, Nos 32; and HB 414 (selective service and 2‑year college transfer tuition assistance) — Ayes 79, Nos 19. Each was recorded as passing on the House floor.

Beyond the roll‑call items, members moved numerous bills through committee substitutes or committee amendments and agreed to engross many measures for third reading. Examples include HB 69 (prohibiting certain post‑termination noncompete clauses for franchisees), HB 107 (clarifying service requirements for underinsured motorist actions), HB 159 (streamlining enforcement procedures under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act), HB 230 (clarifying seat‑belt rules for EMS personnel when providing in‑vehicle patient care), HB 242 (limiting frequency of budget‑billing increases and requiring 60‑day notice), HB 351 (recognizing Virginia Department of Military Affairs emergency vehicles responding off installation), HB 368 (aligning state code definitions for American Indian and tribal relations), HB 396 and HB 399 (updates to charitable gaming rules), and HB 603 (technical change to the Virginia All‑Payer Claims Database). Many of these were moved by committee patrons, committee substitutes were adopted where noted, and the measures were advanced to third reading.

Several public‑health and consumer protection measures also moved forward. The House agreed to committee amendments and advanced HB 222 to allow the Virginia Department of Health to promulgate statewide regulations for the operations and safety of public pools, spas and water parks. HB 380 (adding celiac disease awareness to state‑provided training materials for restaurants) and HB 381 (requiring notification to families if a deceased person's organ was retained after an autopsy) were also advanced following committee action.

On procedural and ceremonial business, the House adopted House Joint Resolution 88 to honor the late Reverend Dr. Sylvester L. Turner and agreed to adjourn in memory of Alex Preddy. The clerk also announced the schedule of committee meetings for the afternoon and the next day. The House agreed to reconvene at 12:00 p.m. on Jan. 28 and then adjourned.

What happens next: Bills moved to third reading may face floor debate and final passage votes in subsequent sessions; measures sent to committees will proceed according to the schedules announced on the floor. Where recorded, vote tallies above reflect House roll‑call results as read into the record.