Virginia Senate adopts 2026 standing committee rosters, adjourns in honor of Delegate Barry Knight

RICHMOND — The Senate of Virginia on Feb. 20 adopted its 2026 standing committee nominations and adjourned in honor of the late Delegate Barry Knight.

The chair recognized the senator from Hampton, who presented the standing committee nominations and the clerk read the rosters for committees including Agriculture; Commerce and Labor; Courts of Justice; Finance and Appropriations; General Laws and Technology; Local Government; Privileges and Elections; Transportation; and Rules. After the reading, the senator from Hampton moved to adopt the nominations report; the clerk closed the roll and the presiding officer announced, “The committee nominations report is adopted.”

The session also moved through routine, uncontested business. Earlier in the morning the Senate waived the reading of the journal and dispensed with the second reading of the titles of multiple House bills on the uncontested calendar. Tally lines in the record show the journal-reading waiver announced as "Eyes 38, noes 2," and the uncontested-calendar action recorded in the transcript (tally entries appear in the record).

The Senate paused for personal privilege remarks during which the senior senator from Virginia Beach delivered an extended eulogy for Delegate Barry Knight, praising his service and rural roots. "Barry was a great man, a great legislator, a true Virginia gentleman," the senator said. The senator recounted Knight's family, public service and community work and urged the body to adjourn in his honor.

Following that eulogy, the senator from Portsmouth moved that the Senate adjourn until 12 noon Monday and do so "in honor and memory of our friend and colleague, Delegate Barry Knight." The motion carried and the presiding officer said the Senate stood adjourned until noon Monday.

Other moments in the short session included introductions of visiting groups in the gallery, notably the 2026 cohort of the Minority Political Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a prayer offered by the Reverend Doctor Janetta Lee of Saint Paul's Baptist Church in Richmond. The senator from Eastern Fairfax used a point of personal privilege to quote a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion and to urge senators to value the legislative process.

The Senate’s clerk also read desk announcements about upcoming committee meetings and a weekend weather forecast. The Senate recessed briefly during the morning and then reconvened to complete the procedural business and the memorial adjournment.

Votes at a glance: Waive reading of the journal — announced in the record as "Eyes 38, noes 2"; Waive reading of House communication — roll closed and tally recorded in the transcript (transcript shows differing tallies in successive lines); Adopt committee nominations report — announced in the record as adopted; Adjourn in honor of Delegate Barry Knight — motion agreed to and Senate adjourned until 12 noon Monday.

The Senate will reconvene at noon Monday for further business.