House Appropriations Committee advances wide slate of bills; several measures draw divided votes

The House Appropriations Committee met and acted on a broad array of proposals from multiple subcommittees, reporting bills to the floor and carrying others over to future sessions.

The committee began its session by striking five patron-requested bills (House Bills 4-71, 10-85, 11-21, 12-45 and 13-06) on a recorded vote, 22 to 0. Subcommittee reports followed, and many measures were advanced with committee substitutes or amendments.

Notable outcomes included: HB 4-30 (renaming the New College Institute to the West Piedmont Higher Education Center), HB 4-10 (requiring SAT administration during school hours at home high schools with a substitute), and HB 13-01 (permits certain diabetes management tasks by school employees and requires division-wide plans) — each reported unanimously, 22 to 0. Several health and education bills were reported either unanimously or with recorded majorities, including HB 4-90 (pharmacy refills for eye drops) and HB 14-46 (sickle cell training for school nurses).

Several bills drew divided committee votes. The committee reported HB 2-98 (restorative disciplinary practices) 14 to 7. HB 6-13 (teacher recruitment and retention mentorship pilot) moved with a substitute after a reconsideration procedure and was reported 15 to 7. A substitute for HB 11-82 requiring coverage for certain over-the-counter contraceptives passed 21 to 1.

On commerce and gaming policy, House Bill 161 — authorizing internet gaming and imposing a 20% tax on adjusted gross Internet gaming revenue with 5% directed to a problem-gambling fund until 2037 — was reported with substitute, 14 to 8. The committee also reported HB 12-72 (the “skills game” bill) with an appropriation substitute establishing a 30% tax on gross profits from skill machines and a revenue distribution that includes a gaming regulatory fund and host-locality transfers; that bill reported 13 to 9.

One budgetary item of note: a substitute to HB 12-07 would create a paid family and medical leave program at the Virginia Employment Commission. The subcommittee estimated startup costs at approximately $75,000,000; the committee reported the bill with substitute 15 to 7.

Beyond those items, the committee moved numerous technical, regulatory and funding measures across subcommittees, including aviation fund allocation updates, workforce and health-care workforce evaluations, and veterans-related regulatory changes. Several bills were carried over to 2027 as noted on the record.

The committee adjourned after completing subcommittee reports and taking recorded and voice votes on the day’s business.

Votes at a glance (selected items and committee tallies): - Five patron-requested bills stricken: 22–0. - HB 4-30 (West Piedmont Higher Education Center): reported 22–0. - HB 2-98 (restorative practices): reported 14–7. - HB 4-10 (SAT in school hours) with substitute: reported 22–0. - HB 6-13 (teacher mentorship pilot) with substitute: reported 15–7 (substitute adoption followed reconsideration). - HB 13-01 (school diabetes management) with substitute: reported 22–0. - HB 13-73 (Cysna program enhancements): reported 15–7. - HB 11-82 (coverage for OTC contraceptives): reported 21–1. - HB 161 (internet gaming) with substitute: reported 14–8. - HB 12-72 (skill-machine tax) with substitute: reported 13–9. - HB 12-07 (paid family & medical leave) with substitute: reported 15–7; estimated startup cost ≈ $75,000,000.

This summary is based solely on the committee’s recorded subcommittee reports and roll-call tallies as read into the record during the session.