Senate advances wide slate of bills on March 9, including paid‑leave substitute, parking caps and labor reforms
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Summary
On March 9 the Senate of Virginia moved a lengthy calendar and approved numerous House bills and conference reports, including a paid family and medical leave substitute (HB 12‑07), parking caps near transit (HB 8‑88), a physician‑assistant independent practice bill (HB 7‑46), several housing and criminal‑justice measures, and many uncontested items passed in block votes.
The Senate of Virginia used a full floor session on March 9 to move a long calendar and pass a wide range of House bills and conference reports.
Key floor actions included: passage of the finance substitute for HB 12‑07 (paid family and medical leave insurance), which the sponsor described as an insurance program funded by small employee and employer contributions and expected to require actuarial analysis; passage was recorded Ayes 21, Noes 19. The Senate also passed HB 8‑88 after adopting a floor substitute clarifying that fixed‑route transit (including bus rapid transit) triggers parking caps while on‑demand microtransit does not; recorded Ayes 21, Noes 19.
Health‑sector measures moved as well: HB 7‑46 would permit physician assistants with three years of full‑time clinical experience to apply for independent practice authority subject to board review; the Senate passed the bill (Ayes 38, Noes 2). Other bills approved included HB 55 (pilot muffler/noise monitoring program; Ayes 21, Noes 19), HB 3‑29 (landlord‑tenant retaliatory conduct; Ayes 25, Noes 15), HB 3‑79 (rental application transparency; Ayes 25, Noes 15), HB 13‑25 (manufactured home flood‑insurance disclosure; Ayes 24, Noes 16), HB 3‑61 (earned sentence credits clarifications; Ayes 21, Noes 19), and HB 4‑02 (expanded cottage food sales via internet and delivery; voice recorded affirmative).
Senators placed a large set of uncontested House bills on third reading in a single block and advanced them by voice and recorded votes where required. Conference committee reports were adopted in several cases, including the conference committee report on SB 161 (prescription pricing adjustments), which the Senate adopted by roll call Ayes 38, Noes 2.
The Senate announced committee meetings to follow adjournment and agreed to adjourn until 10:00 a.m. the next day. Several bills passed on March 9 will go to the enrollment/enactment steps or to conference committees as noted on the floor.