[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6317474,"mediaKeyId","2372324-58fdbf5e0ea09c0c05d54b5630c0a171","parentId",2372324,"title","House adopts conference reports across education, public safety, utilities and health; dozens of bills advanced","audioSeconds",222,"startMs",1179000,"endMs",1401000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372324-58fdbf5e0ea09c0c05d54b5630c0a171&start=1179&end=1401","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372324-58fdbf5e0ea09c0c05d54b5630c0a171/thumbnail_1179000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317474/Virginia/House-adopts-conference-reports-across-education-public-safety-utilities-and-health-dozens-of-bills-advanced","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317474-4717905695287f56b6f956497e0f87f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186885&Signature=fTW4irhOhELRB8Yk7J4Jp9K9-3kg9L7mrVtcyqRRZiroIScqR0euFVtKCQ8QNW~Jm~BnxhqwV3CF-zY2eS0tKTXToYaFobVGlTz08TNtDQdYqk6cgV-CzGon1DtFm8yzFTsxxhJ~s3lu2KiMgAdrpKtfJXJlxJeL7PKGG6nWEVvKyqkVkpWaC4DJMuBYq7q~P1E4rCfgDR5LBMqlu2n~0sMh67DyQW98~VK7Ptu4lyT65NpqZH1VPkObUqcQIq~A76MQN6MlveoIZe9PvaptSRJmHiZMLTHdLdJrkTiq-ufpW0JrxKxr7hE64QWO6IReu1v0wWJaYyOJPyqYftMj2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Virginia","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Virginia House of Delegates agreed to conference committee reports on dozens of bills during a floor session, voting recorded for each report and the chamber accepting the text that emerged from negotiations between House and Senate conferees.

The conference reports adopted on the floor covered a broad range of state policy, including classroom materials and textbook review, school discipline and student-device policies, reforms to veteran and corrections services, utility rate recovery rules, and changes to criminal statutes and penalties. Delegates who served as lead conferees briefly summarized each report for the chamber before members voted by recorded or voice tally.

Why it matters: adopting a conference report means the House accepted the compromise language negotiated between the two chambers; the adopted reports finalize the version of each bill that the General Assembly produced in conference committee.

Votes at a glance (selected conference reports and recorded tallies):

- House Bill 1946 (retail tobacco and hemp products; sale/possession by persons under 21; retailer registration/license penalty). Presented by Delegate Hope (Arlington). Vote: Ayes 82, Noes 8. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 1695 (public elementary and secondary schools: cardiac emergency response/emergency action plans). Presented by the House lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 92, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 1782 (newborn screening and the federal/recommended uniform screening panel; rulemaking). Presented by Delegate Sullivan. Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 1923 (health insurance reimbursement parity for certain practitioners, described in debate as a midwife parity bill). Presented by Delegate DeWart (Hampton). Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2071 (Department of Social Services: use of Veterans Reentry Search Services System/notification system for incarcerated veterans). Presented by Delegate Thomas (Prince William). Vote: Ayes 95, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2120 (seizure of property used in or derived from financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; expands who may file and requires expedited review). Presented by Delegate Maldonado. Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2158 (Department of Corrections: general system of schools for incarcerated individuals; literacy screening; data-sharing provisions; budget-neutral changes). Presented by Delegate Carr. Vote: Ayes 81, Noes 13. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2276 (voter registration list maintenance; records for cancellation subject to FOIA; 14-day notice for felony convictions). Presented by Delegate Price (Newport News). Vote: Ayes 54, Noes 41. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2303 / related Senate companion (large-animal veterinary grant program; establishes state veterinarian program; funding included in budget per presenters). Presented by Delegate Lopez. Vote: Ayes 94, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2308 / related Senate companion (adds nitrous oxide to list of noxious chemicals; sales to minors prohibited; certain exemptions retained for health-care providers and specified businesses). Presented by Delegate Cousins (Richmond City). Vote: Ayes 95, Noes 1. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2401 (child engaged in content-creation; trust account for earnings). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 52, Noes 44. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2606 (special-education due process hearings; permit but not require dismissal of vexatious/repetitive requests; two-year sunset; Commission on Youth review). Presented by Delegate Rasoulis. Vote: Ayes 77, Noes 18. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2657 (involuntary manslaughter & certain drug offenses; changes to felony classification and carve-outs described on the floor). Presented by Delegate Thomas. Vote: Ayes 93, Noes 1. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2711 (water and wastewater utility eligible infrastructure replacement and cost-recovery rules; conferees noted technical amendments were accepted). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 81, Noes 14. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2749 (Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water: mandatory monthly operation reports). Presented by Delegate Henson. Vote: Ayes 94, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- House Bill 2777 (public schools: textbooks and high-quality instructional materials; delayed effective date included). Presented by Delegate Rasulier (Roanoke City). Vote: Ayes 91, Noes 3. Conference report adopted.

- House Joint Resolution (study committee on consolidation and scheduling of general elections). Presented by Delegate Simons (Newport News). Vote: Ayes 50, Noes 46. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 738 (student discipline; student cell phone/smart device policies; makes conference text mirror recently passed House language). Presented by the Senate/House lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 73, Noes 23. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 800/701 (sales and use tax media exemption/sunset technical fix). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 93, Noes 3. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 883 (purchase/possession/transportation of firearm in assault or battery of family/household member; closes ‘‘dating-partner’’ loophole per sponsor). Presented by Delegate McClure. Vote: Ayes 51, Noes 45. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 897 (overtime coverage for certain domestic service workers; carve-outs for consumer-directed services under Titles 19/21). Presented by Delegate Hintz. Vote: Ayes 50, Noes 46. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 913 (Virginia Public Procurement Act: prohibit procurement of imported goods produced with forced or child labor; conferees placed definition into code). Presented by Delegate Bullard (Fairfax). Vote: Ayes 92, Noes 4. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 921 (state veterinarian/large-animal veterinary grant program; identical to House version). Presented by Delegate Lopez. Vote: Ayes 95, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 955 (textbook review process; aligns with House bill passed earlier). Presented by Delegate Vasil (Roanoke City). Vote: Ayes 88, Noes 8. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1010 (subpoenas duces tecum for financial records; merged provisions with another bill on non-party objections). Sponsor asked the item be considered; the conference report was adopted. Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1016 (Hunger Free Campus food pantry grant program; funding allocated via budget rather than private donations). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 70, Noes 26. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1021 (electric-utility integrated resource plans; made identical to the House companion). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 65, Noes 31. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1034 (augmentative and alternative communication documentation/training for individualized education programs). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 95, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1060 (permits/penalties for tobacco-product retailers; cognate to HB 1946). Presented by Delegate Hope (Arlington). Vote: Ayes 80, Noes 15. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1106 (Virginia National Guard state tuition-assistance eligibility changes to reduce up-front costs). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 95, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1228 (Board for Barbers and Cosmetology: employment-prohibition language changed to employed vs. participating). Presented by Delegate Jones (Mitcham/City). Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1271 (threats of death or bodily injury; updates to include email, text and social-media threats; technical changes on reasonable apprehension language). Presented by Delegate Hope (Monington). Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1361 (nitrous oxide prohibition; made identical to HB 2308 adopted earlier). Presented by Delegate Cousins. Vote: Ayes 94, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 1369 (retail sales/use tax exemption for prescription medicines purchased by veterinarians; sunset extension). Presented by the lead conferee. Vote: Ayes 96, Noes 0. Conference report adopted.

- Senate Bill 746 (felony homicide for certain drug offenses; identical to HB 2657). Presented by Delegate Thomas. Vote: Ayes 91, Noes 2. Conference report adopted.

Floor procedure and next steps: House officers reminded members that additional conference reports remained outstanding and that the chamber planned a brief procedural reconvening in the concurrently-called 2024 special session before returning to the 2025 regular session to continue finishing conference reports and the budget. A motion to adjourn was agreed to; members will reconvene at the time announced by the Speaker and Clerk.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 21, 2025 - Regular Session Part 2 2:51 PM - 4:57 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Virginia House of Delegates agreed to conference committee reports on dozens of bills during a floor session, adopting compromise text negotiated between House and Senate conferees.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature VA, Virginia","taxId",77687,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317469,"Delegate Innes announces retirement; colleagues pay tribute on House floor",180,4565000,4745000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372324-58fdbf5e0ea09c0c05d54b5630c0a171&start=4565&end=4745","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372324-58fdbf5e0ea09c0c05d54b5630c0a171/thumbnail_4565000.jpg","/articles/6317469/Virginia/Delegate-Innes-announces-retirement-colleagues-pay-tribute-on-House-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317469-56479a9ce62f38d8c20186211f075854/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186885&Signature=T~Uza4eB-l3d6TMn6X-~KMiF4oRaXfkdSSqBl8GQW8DLWSMedVBxgE2GqYSeqZRnQ89NWWo7yoO1qiAJlgm3s10sQLoqlNYN-O3fWr0j4eta2Ot3jSLNIpM27vV0LeXxclEh4x-nj5zuHkcbLnnRTwdFklNP478aGbc0THwvPnVrifzML3kzGt9pOuk01abjOv09CAqyh1UmJCBb5YKXydDevNRSpYqlVFdmLlRJViCIng4exNyiSkl23v0ch4FLeaa7XDyYP~-3PDrPZFEV6MljMlxBe6jovbZT9meBlgym4ZvGt5LdXE3xNX9ByfrSTGO9V~lEMW179MFlJk-ycg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delegate Innes of Chesapeake used a point of personal privilege on the House floor to announce that he will retire from the Virginia House of Delegates at the end of his current term.

Innes recounted parts of his biography in remarks to the chamber, including military service and community involvement. He referenced a combat parachute jump into Panama, deployment to the Persian Gulf with the 82nd Airborne Division, work organizing the Hampton Roads Leadership Prayer Breakfast, and service on the Chesapeake Regional Healthcare Board. He closed his remarks thanking staff and family and asking that the chamber be granted wisdom in its work: \"I will retire from the House of Delegates at the end of my term this year,\" he said.

Colleagues responded with personal remarks and tributes. Delegate Leftwich praised Innes's character and faith, describing him as \"one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle men\" the speaker had met and noting his work organizing prayer breakfasts. Another member referenced Innes's book and said it guided the delegate’s approach to public life.

Why it matters: personal-privilege statements on the floor are the forum members use to announce major personal and political decisions. A sitting delegate's decision to retire signals an upcoming open seat and the potential for competitive local races and committee reassignments.

Next steps: Innes said he will continue representing his constituents for the remainder of his term. The House extended unanimous thanks for his service and the chamber proceeded with floor business.","Delegate Innes (Chesapeake) told the Virginia House of Delegates he will retire at the end of his current term; colleagues delivered personal remarks and thanked him for his service.","actionData","errors"]

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House adopts conference reports across education, public safety, utilities and health; dozens of bills advanced

Delegate Innes announces retirement; colleagues pay tribute on House floor