Senate advances block of bills, adopts conference reports and records several close votes
March 03, 2026 | 2026 Legislature VA, Virginia
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The Senate of Virginia met in Richmond on March 3 and moved a large slate of legislation through the chamber, adopting conference reports and approving numerous House bills in a combination of block votes and individual roll calls.
During the morning calendar the Senate adopted the conference committee report on Senate Bill 581, a charter amendment matter, on a recorded vote (Ayes 28, Nos 12). The chamber later acceded to committee-of-conference requests for a block of Senate bills (including SB 28, SB 161, SB 358, SB 398, SB 493, SB 596 and SB 765), naming conferees by committee chairs and agreeing to that block unanimously (Ayes 40, No 0).
A number of House bills were advanced in an uncontested block after committees reported substitutes and amendments. Committee substitutes and amendments from Rehabilitation and Social Services, Rules and Transportation were adopted where required, and the block of House bills on pages 24–30 passed by voice or unanimous roll call (Ayes 40, No 0). Separate, contested items on the calendar produced closer results: House Bill 8 94 (a private-school bullying and conduct measure dubbed "Charlie’s Law") passed on a recorded vote, 25–15. House Bill 3 20 (prohibiting live streaming while driving, after a floor amendment to clarify conferencing-platform language) passed 22–18. House Bill 3 43 (local helmet ordinances for children on scooters, etc.) passed 21–19. House Bill 5 64 (authorizing bus-obstruction monitoring systems in certain cases) passed 21–19.
Other items passed with large majorities: House Bill 6 46 (authorizing green warning lights on certain farm vehicles) passed overwhelmingly (Ayes 39, No 1), and House Bill 3 01 (allowing adult adoptees access to original birth certificates) passed 33–7 before being later placed to go by for procedural reasons.
Not all measures were successful. After extended committee discussion and floor exchange about enforcement, dispute mechanisms, data use and vendor safeguards, House Bill 55 — which would have authorized localities to place noise abatement monitoring systems for aftermarket muffler enforcement — failed on final passage (Ayes 18, Nos 22). Senators raised questions about repeat citations, dispute processes and the privacy and retention of image data.
The Senate recessed the day with committee meeting announcements and adjourned until noon the following day.
Votes at a glance (selected roll-call tallies reported on the floor):
- SB 581 (conference report): adopted (Ayes 28, Nos 12).
- HB 8 94 (private school bullying standards, "Charlie’s Law"): passed (25–15).
- HB 3 20 (prohibit live streaming while driving, amended): passed (22–18).
- HB 3 43 (local helmet ordinances for children): passed (21–19).
- HB 5 64 (bus obstruction monitoring systems): passed (21–19).
- HB 6 46 (green warning lights for certain farm vehicles): passed (39–1).
- HB 55 (noise abatement monitoring systems): failed (18–22).
The clerk announced committee meetings to convene after adjournment and the Senate stood adjourned until 12 noon the next day.
During the morning calendar the Senate adopted the conference committee report on Senate Bill 581, a charter amendment matter, on a recorded vote (Ayes 28, Nos 12). The chamber later acceded to committee-of-conference requests for a block of Senate bills (including SB 28, SB 161, SB 358, SB 398, SB 493, SB 596 and SB 765), naming conferees by committee chairs and agreeing to that block unanimously (Ayes 40, No 0).
A number of House bills were advanced in an uncontested block after committees reported substitutes and amendments. Committee substitutes and amendments from Rehabilitation and Social Services, Rules and Transportation were adopted where required, and the block of House bills on pages 24–30 passed by voice or unanimous roll call (Ayes 40, No 0). Separate, contested items on the calendar produced closer results: House Bill 8 94 (a private-school bullying and conduct measure dubbed "Charlie’s Law") passed on a recorded vote, 25–15. House Bill 3 20 (prohibiting live streaming while driving, after a floor amendment to clarify conferencing-platform language) passed 22–18. House Bill 3 43 (local helmet ordinances for children on scooters, etc.) passed 21–19. House Bill 5 64 (authorizing bus-obstruction monitoring systems in certain cases) passed 21–19.
Other items passed with large majorities: House Bill 6 46 (authorizing green warning lights on certain farm vehicles) passed overwhelmingly (Ayes 39, No 1), and House Bill 3 01 (allowing adult adoptees access to original birth certificates) passed 33–7 before being later placed to go by for procedural reasons.
Not all measures were successful. After extended committee discussion and floor exchange about enforcement, dispute mechanisms, data use and vendor safeguards, House Bill 55 — which would have authorized localities to place noise abatement monitoring systems for aftermarket muffler enforcement — failed on final passage (Ayes 18, Nos 22). Senators raised questions about repeat citations, dispute processes and the privacy and retention of image data.
The Senate recessed the day with committee meeting announcements and adjourned until noon the following day.
Votes at a glance (selected roll-call tallies reported on the floor):
- SB 581 (conference report): adopted (Ayes 28, Nos 12).
- HB 8 94 (private school bullying standards, "Charlie’s Law"): passed (25–15).
- HB 3 20 (prohibit live streaming while driving, amended): passed (22–18).
- HB 3 43 (local helmet ordinances for children): passed (21–19).
- HB 5 64 (bus obstruction monitoring systems): passed (21–19).
- HB 6 46 (green warning lights for certain farm vehicles): passed (39–1).
- HB 55 (noise abatement monitoring systems): failed (18–22).
The clerk announced committee meetings to convene after adjournment and the Senate stood adjourned until 12 noon the next day.
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