Virginia House passes broad package of bills on housing, health, energy and constitutional referrals

RICHMOND — The Virginia House of Delegates on Jan. 28 passed scores of bills on third reading and advanced multiple measures that would appear on future ballots, approving legislation on energy efficiency, health care, housing policy and procedural changes.

House leaders moved through several large calendar blocks, taking up an uncontested third-reading block and a longer series of regularly scheduled third-reading bills. Recorded roll-call tallies included House Bill 2 (energy-efficiency upgrades targeted at low-income residents), which passed 65-30; House Bill 3 (an income-qualified energy-efficiency and weatherization task force), which passed 78-18; and House Bill 6 (relating to the right to contraception and enforcement), which passed 65-32. Other measures approved on third reading addressed railroad safety, public pools, health-insurance surcharges and adoption record access.

The House also advanced ballot language for two constitutional amendments. Delegate David Cohen, speaking in support of HB 612 (ballot language for HJ 3), said, “It’s past time our constitution reflects our commitment to the protection of all Virginians,” urging the chamber to move the referral forward. The House engrossed and passed the committee substitutes for both the marriage-related referral (HB 612) and the reproductive-freedom ballot language (HB 781), sending them toward final steps required for referendum.

Housing policy was another major theme. The chamber approved multiple housing bills to increase supply and local tools: measures establishing statewide housing targets, expanding zoning for multifamily development, and authorizing expedited local approval processes for certain affordable housing projects were all engrossed and passed to third reading.

Although much of the calendar moved by voice or unanimous consent, several measures recorded formal tallies; others were engrossed without a recorded division on the floor. The House also adopted a number of commendatory resolutions and took procedural actions to allow late filing of a bill on electronic prior authorization for prescription drugs.

What happens next: Bills engrossed and passed to third reading will return for final disposition under the House calendar and, where required, move to the Senate and ultimately to the governor for signature or veto. Constitutional referrals will be placed on the ballot according to the timetable set in their respective texts.

Votes at a glance (selected third-reading outcomes from Jan. 28 session): House Bill 2 — passed 65-30; House Bill 3 — passed 78-18; House Bill 6 — passed 65-32; House Bill 220 (tobacco surcharge/health insurance) — passed 81-16; House Bill 222 (public pools) — passed 87-10; House Bill 301 (adult adoptees access to vital records) — passed 84-10; House Bill 67 (offshore wind workforce training) — passed 85-12; House Bill 515 (sports betting credit-card prohibition) — passed 94-3. Other bills were engrossed and passed to third reading without roll-call tallies provided on the floor record for the items covered in this session.

This session’s calendar also included multiple recognitions and ceremonial matters — including commendations for the Virginia Society of Clinical Social Workers and the Virginia Coalition for Open Government — and concluded with scheduling announcements for committee meetings and an adjournment until noon the next day.