Senate subcommittees move dozens of bills: summary and votes at a glance

The Senate Finance and Appropriations subcommittees considered a large number of bills on January 27, 2025, taking procedural actions on measures ranging from tax changes to procurement, aviation funding and retirement benefits. Committee members frequently moved bills "pass by for the day" (PBF) to allow budget staff or patrons more time to work on language; other measures were reported or passed by indefinitely (PBI). Below are key items and the committee actions recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 962 (Virginia Public Procurement Act; apprenticeship, safety and contractor eligibility): reported (electronic vote recorded Ayes 10, Noes 5).

- Senate Bill 948 (aircraft registration; increase and automation of fees): reported (Ayes 14, Noes 1).

- Senate Bill 1265 (driver communication improvement program / "blue envelope"): subcommittee motion to report failed; recommendation showed split (2 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions) in subcommittee summary.

- Senate Bill 1467 (Commonwealth Aviation Fund allocation change): the subcommittee recorded a motion to pass by indefinitely (Ayes 10, Noes 5).

- Senate Bill 1061 (discontinuing DMV decals): recommended PBI (Ayes 11, Noes 4 recorded for the PBI action).

- Senate Bill 741 (definition of public aircraft; sunset extension): reported (Ayes 15, Noes 0).

- Senate Bill 1473 (chair's bill on six-year capital outlay plan adjustments): reported (Ayes 15, Noes 0).

- Senate Bill 1082 (Commonwealth Transportation Bonds for special structures; $1,000,000,000 issuance in substitute): reported with substitute (Ayes 15, Noes 0).

- Senate Bill 1144 (Short Line Railway Preservation and Development Fund): reported (Ayes 15, Noes 0).

- Senate Bill 1158 (eminent domain / condemnation proceedings): reported (Ayes 15, Noes 0 per roll call on reporting).

- Senate Bill 1083 (enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers; incorporates similar bills): motion to pass by for the day and request a JLARC study was approved (voice vote recorded in transcript as approved to pass by for the day and send JLARC letter).

- Senate Bill 810 (Earned Income Tax Credit refundable): passed by for the day (voice vote).

- Senate Bill 864 (horse racing / definition of breakage): the committee recorded a close electronic vote (Ayes 8, Noes 7) to PBI.

- Multiple tax and revenue bills (including measures addressing taxable income definitions, tax credits, and deductions such as Senate Bills 1426, 1323, 1443, 1410, 763, 1456, 1423, 1315 and others) were commonly moved to "pass by for the day" or "pass by indefinitely" with many recorded as committee recommendations; where an electronic tally was recorded in the transcript it is noted above, otherwise the transcript records the procedural outcome (PBF or PBI).

What this means

Most bills were deferred for further work in the budget or to allow patrons time to negotiate substitutes; a smaller set were reported out of subcommittee with recorded unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Several measures that would alter funding formulas, tax treatment, or create grant programs were highlighted as items the budget (or future appropriations action) would address.

Provenance: The items above are drawn from the resources, capital outlay and transportation, and general government subcommittee reports read into the committee record during the January 27 meeting; voice and electronic roll-call results are noted where the transcript provides them.