Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Proceedings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Virginia House of Delegates honors departing members during ceremonial morning session
Summary
On Jan. 16, 2026 the House of Delegates opened with an invocation and a series of personal‑privilege remarks honoring several departing members; the chamber also recorded committee assignment changes and agreed to adjourn to reconvene Jan. 17 at 11 a.m.
The Virginia House of Delegates convened Jan. 16, 2026, with an invocation by Dr. Steve J. Collins of the Appalachian School of Theology and a pledge led by the delegate from Alexandria, Delegate Herring. Members delivered a succession of personal‑privilege speeches honoring colleagues who are leaving the chamber this session and recalling decades of service, mentorship and local policy work.
Dr. Steve J. Collins opened the session with a prayer asking for guidance for legislators: "Gracious and sovereign Lord, we just want to thank you for this opportunity to gather," he said. Delegates then rose in turn to pay tribute to departing members, emphasizing constituent service, bipartisanship and institutional knowledge. Speakers repeatedly credited departing members with helping newer legislators and cited work on issues such as water quality, Medicaid expansion and voting rights.
Clerk-read communications from the Speaker included committee reassignment notices and scheduling items. The letter announced that Delegate Gardner was removed from the Committee on County, Cities and Towns and appointed to the Committee on Public Safety, and that Delegate Mundon King was removed from Public Safety and appointed to County, Cities and Towns; the communication also noted three new members are expected to be sworn in Monday and a special election is scheduled next week.
Late in the morning, Delegate Herring moved that the House adjourn to reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.; the motion was approved by voice vote. Herring then moved that the House do now adjourn, and the chamber agreed to that motion as well. The House recessed to reconvene at the stated time.
The session was largely ceremonial: there was no substantive floor business on the calendar during the morning hours, and members used the time to recognize colleagues’ service and to relay routine scheduling and procedural reminders.
