General Laws Committee forwards multiple bills, including ban on menopause discrimination and tenant-notice changes

The Virginia Senate General Laws Committee, meeting for the final session of the 2026 legislative year, voted to report a slate of bills from several subcommittees, advancing proposals on civil-rights protections, tenant notification, cannabis enforcement and procurement rules.

Chair Delaney introduced the first set of measures and presented an uncontested block of two bills. "This bill addresses the children's ombudsman. It expands the office's access to certain records and reports and allows the office to report certain complaints to the office of the inspector general," Chair Delaney said of SB125, which the committee reported uncontested. The second bill in the block, SB565, would extend certain claim limits and license-threshold provisions (applying to verified claims filed on or after June 6, 2024) to claimants approved by the board of contractors; that bill carried an amendment. Both were reported by voice/roll call 20-0.

The committee advanced SB258, introduced as a substitute by the subcommittee and patroned by Sen. Picarski, which would add "menopause or perimenopause" as protected categories under the Virginia Human Rights Act for employment, hiring and reasonable workplace accommodation, government programs and public accommodations. The subcommittee "recommended reporting by a vote of 6 to 2," and the full committee reported the substitute to the next stage by roll call 14-6.

On housing matters, Chair Simon presented SB294 (conformed to House Bill 1361), which the subcommittee reported with a substitute plus a line amendment delaying enactment until July 1, 2027. Under the substituted bill, termination-of-tenancy notices for nonpayment under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act would be effective only if the notice includes a written statement of charges and a 12-month utility-billing history for each tenant. The committee reported SB294 20-1.

A companion housing-related item, SB613, was reported with a subcommittee substitute directing the Real Estate Board to review licensing procedures, including criminal background-check processes, and identify ways to expedite issuance of licenses; the committee reported that bill 21-0.

Chair Torian presented SB543 on marijuana and hemp enforcement, which the subcommittee amended to increase enforcement and penalties for illegal sales by certain licensees and to require the Cannabis Control Authority to create a decal enabling consumers to electronically verify retail marijuana-store license validity. The committee reported SB543 as amended, 17-4.

In procurement and government-transparency items, Chair McClure reported SB50 (patron Sen. Rouse), which would expand the definition of lobbying to include attempts to influence local government action and require the Secretary of the Commonwealth to publish a semiannual list of local official positions to assist lobbyists; the subcommittee recommended reporting with substitute and referral to the Appropriations Committee, and the committee reported the measure 14-6. SB326 (Sen. McPike) would permit cooperative procurement for roofing, maintenance and component replacement that do not modify structure; the committee reported that bill and referred it to appropriations 20-0. SB575 (Sen. Reeves) would exclude certain intergovernmental support agreements pursuant to federal law from some provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act; it was reported 20-0.

Votes at a glance: SB125 (children's ombudsman) — reported uncontested 20-0; SB565 (contractor recovery) — reported as amended 20-0; SB258 (menopause/perimenopause nondiscrimination) — reported with substitute 14-6; SB574 (auctioneers board qualifications) — reported 19-1; SB294 (tenant termination notice; delayed enactment) — reported with substitute and line amendment 20-1; SB613 (real-estate licensing review) — reported 21-0; SB543 (marijuana/hemp enforcement; consumer verification decal) — reported as amended 17-4; SB50 (lobbying definition expansion; referral to appropriations) — reported with substitute 14-6; SB326 (cooperative procurement exception for roofing/maintenance) — reported and referred to appropriations 20-0; SB575 (procurement intergovernmental agreements) — reported 20-0.

The committee did not take final passage votes; most bills were "reported" to the next committee or referred to Appropriations as noted. The meeting closed after the subcommittee reports and the committee adjourned.

Sources: Committee discussion and roll calls during the General Laws Committee final meeting of the 2026 session; statements and descriptions provided by subcommittee chairs and the committee clerk recorded in the committee transcript.