Virginia House of Delegates

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Virginia House of
Delegates
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Democrat
Session start:   January 10, 2024
Session end:   March 9, 2024
Term length:   2 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Hybrid
Salary:   $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. + per diem
Members
Total:  100
Democrats:  51
Republicans:  49
Other:  0
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
Speaker:   Don Scott (Virginia) (D)
Maj. Leader:   Charniele Herring (D)
Min. Leader:   Todd Gilbert (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 7, 2023
Next election:  November 4, 2025

The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower chamber of the Virginia General Assembly. Alongside the Virginia State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Virginia state government and works alongside the governor of Virginia to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Virginia House of Delegates include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Virginia House of Delegates meets in the state capitol building in Richmond, Virginia.

  • All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates were up for election in 2023.
  • In the 2023 elections, Democrats secured a 51-49 majority. Click to read more »
  • Virginia has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Virginia House of Delegates.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Virginia House of Delegates as of May 2024:

    Party As of May 2024
         Democratic Party 51
         Republican Party 49
         Other 0
         Vacancies 0
    Total 100

    Members

    Leadership

    The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the speaker include assigning bills to committee and appointing the membership of standing committees.[1][2]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Virginia House of Delegates District 1 Patrick Hope Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 2 Adele McClure Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 3 Alfonso Lopez Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 4 Charniele Herring Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 5 Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 6 R.C. Sullivan Jr. Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 7 Karen Keys-Gamarra Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 8 Irene Shin Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 9 Karrie Delaney Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 10 Dan Helmer Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 11 David Bulova Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 12 Holly Seibold Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 13 Marcus Simon Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 14 Vivian Watts Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 15 Laura Jane Cohen Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 16 Paul Krizek Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 17 Mark Sickles Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 18 Kathy Tran Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 19 Rozia Henson Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 20 Michelle Maldonado Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 21 Joshua Thomas Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 22 Ian Lovejoy Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 23 Candi King Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 24 Luke Torian Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 25 Briana Sewell Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 26 Kannan Srinivasan Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 27 Atoosa Reaser Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 28 David Reid Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 29 Marty Martinez Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 30 Geary Higgins Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 31 Delores Oates Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 32 Bill Wiley Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 33 Todd Gilbert Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 34 Tony Wilt Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 35 Chris Runion Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 36 Ellen Campbell Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 37 Terry Austin Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 38 Sam Rasoul Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 39 Will Davis Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 40 Joseph McNamara Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 41 Chris Obenshain Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 42 Jason Ballard Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 43 Will Morefield Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 44 Israel O'Quinn Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 45 Terry Kilgore Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 46 Jed Arnold Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 47 Wren Williams Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 48 Eric Phillips Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 49 Danny Marshall Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 50 Tommy Wright Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 51 Eric Zehr Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 52 Wendell Walker Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 53 Tim Griffin Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 54 Katrina Callsen Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 55 Amy Laufer Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 56 Thomas Garrett Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 57 David Owen Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 58 Rodney Willett Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 59 Buddy Fowler Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 60 Scott Wyatt Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 61 Michael Webert Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 62 Nick Freitas Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 63 Phillip Scott Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 64 Paul Milde III Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 65 Joshua Cole Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 66 Bobby Orrock Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 67 Hillary Pugh Kent Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 68 Keith Hodges Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 69 Chad Green Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 70 Shelly Simonds Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 71 Amanda Batten Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 72 Lee Ware Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 73 Mark Earley Jr. Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 74 Mike Cherry Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 75 Carrie Coyner Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 76 Debra Gardner Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 77 Michael Jones Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 78 Betsy Carr Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 79 Rae Cousins Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 80 Destiny LeVere Bolling Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 81 Delores McQuinn Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 82 Kim Taylor Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 83 H. Otto Wachsmann Jr. Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 84 Nadarius Clark Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 85 Marcia Price Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 86 Aijalon Cordoza Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 87 Jeion Ward Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 88 Don Scott Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 89 N. Baxter Ennis Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 90 Jay Leftwich Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 91 Cliff Hayes Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 92 Bonita Anthony Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 93 Jackie Glass Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 94 Phil Hernandez Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 95 Alex Askew Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 96 Kelly Convirs-Fowler Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 97 Michael Feggans Democratic January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 98 Barry Knight Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 99 Anne Ferrell Tata Republican January 10, 2024
    Virginia House of Delegates District 100 Robert Bloxom Republican 2014


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates.$209/day

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.[3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    In order to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, candidates must meet the following qualifications:[4]

    • Be a citizen of the United States.
    • Be at least twenty-one years of age on or before the date of the general or special election for the office sought
    • Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the year immediately preceding the election
    • Be a resident of the district they are seeking to represent
    • Be a qualified voter in the district they are seeking to represent
    • Not have been convicted of a felony (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
    • Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent (unless voting rights have been officially restored)

    Historical party control

    Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2023, making it the third time in three election cycles that the chamber majority changed hands.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Virginia House following every general election from 1991 to 2023. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Virginia House of Delegates election results: 1991-2023

    Year '91 '93 '95 '97[5] '99 '01 '03 '05 '07 '09 '11 '13 '15 '17 '19 '21 '23
    Democrats 58 52 52 50 47 31 37 39 44 39 32 33 34 49 55 48 51
    Republicans 41 47 47 49 52 67 61 58 54 59 67 67 66 51 45 52 49
    Other 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Virginia was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: 1992-1993, 2020-2021
    • Republican trifecta: 2000-2001, 2012-2013
    • Divided government: 1994-1999, 2002-2011, 2014-2019, 2022-2023

    Virginia Party Control: 1992-2024
    Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R
    Senate D D D D S S R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R D R R R R R D D D D D
    House D D D D D D S S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R R D

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Virginia state delegates serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Virginia holds elections for its legislature in odd years.

    2023

    See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023

    Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was held on June 20, 2023. The filing deadline was April 6, 2023.


    Virginia House of Delegates
    Party As of November 7, 2023 After November 8, 2023
         Democratic Party 46 51
         Republican Party 48 49
         Vacancy 6 0
    Total 100 100

    2021

    See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021

    Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2021. The primary was on June 8, 2021, and the general election was on November 2. Party committees could also choose to hold conventions instead of primaries. Those conventions were held throughout the spring of 2021. The filing deadline for primary candidates was March 25, 2021.[6]

    Virginia House of Delegates
    Party As of November 2, 2021 After November 3, 2021
         Democratic Party 55 48
         Republican Party 45 52
    Total 100 100

    2019

    See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019

    Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2019. The primary was on June 11, 2019, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 28, 2019.

    Virginia House of Delegates
    Party As of November 5, 2019 After November 6, 2019
         Democratic Party 49 55
         Republican Party 51 45
    Total 100 100

    2017

    See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2017

    Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[7]


    Virginia House of Delegates
    Party Before November 7, 2017 After November 7, 2017
         Democratic Party 34 49
         Republican Party 66 51
    Total 100 100

    2015

    See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2015

    Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[8]

    Heading into the election, Republicans held a 67-33 majority. Republicans lost one seat in the election, giving them a 66-34 majority.

    Virginia House of Delegates
    Party As of November 3, 2015 After November 3, 2015
         Democratic Party 33 34
         Republican Party 67 66
    Total 100 100

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Virginia General Assembly, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in session, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in recess, the governor shall call the special election. Within 30 days of a vacancy, the appropriate officeholder shall issue a writ of election. If an vacancy occurs between December 10 and March 1, the writ must declare the special election date be within 30 days of said vacancy. All special elections must be held promptly. However, no special election can be held if it occurs less than 55 days before any statewide primary or general election or if there are fewer than 75 days remaining in the vacated term.[15][16]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Virginia Code § 24.2-216

    District map

    See also: Virginia state legislative districts

    The state of Virginia has 100 state House districts. Each district elects one delegate.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Virginia

    On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing a commission-driven congressional and state legislative redistricting process. The 16-member commission comprises eight legislators and eight non-legislator members. Leaders of the legislature's two largest political parties select legislators to serve on the commission. The commission's eight citizen members are recommended by legislative leaders and selected by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. The commissioners themselves select one of the eight citizens to serve as chairperson.[17]

    District maps are subject to the following consensus requirements:[17]

    • Congressional maps: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators and six non-legislators.
    • Virginia State Senate: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state senators) and six non-legislators.
    • Virginia House of Delegates: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state delegates) and six non-legislators.

    The commission submits its maps to the General Assembly, which can vote to approve the maps or reject them. The General Assembly cannot amend the maps. If the General Assembly rejects a map, the commission must draft a second map. If the General Assembly rejects that map, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting a new map.[17][18]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census

    The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously approved district maps for the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia State Senate on December 28, 2021.[19] Democratic and Republican consultants submitted statewide map proposals for consideration to the Virginia Redistricting Commission on September 18, 2021.[20] The commission had reviewed earlier maps on August 31, 2021, that were focused solely on suburbs in northern Virginia that were drawn from scratch and did not consider legislative incumbents’ home addresses in keeping with earlier commission decisions.[21][22] After the commission missed its deadline for approving map proposals and the Virginia Supreme Court assumed authority over the process, the two special masters selected by the court released proposals for House and Senate districts on December 8, 2021.[23]These maps took effect for Virginia's 2023 legislative elections.

    District map after 2020 redistricting

    This map took effect for Virginia's 2022 legislative elections.

    VA final House map.jpg

    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Virginia after the 2010 census

    Virginia received its local census data on February 3, 2011. The state's population grew by 13 percent from 2000 to 2010; its growth mostly occurred in the northeastern part of the state, while declines ranging up to 13.4 percent occurred in counties along the southern and western edges. Loudoun County stood out with an 84.1 percent increase. Growth in the largest cities was less generous: Virginia Beach grew by 3.0 percent, Norfolk grew by 3.6 percent, Chesapeake grew by 11.6 percent, Richmond grew by 3.2 percent, and Newport News grew by 0.3 percent.[24]

    The Assembly was split going into redistricting. Republicans controlled the House, and Democrats controlled the Senate. The House set a 1% standard for allowance of deviation from the ideal district size (88,900 people), while the Senate passed a 2% standard (200,000 being the ideal size). The Senate and House reached a verbal agreement that the chambers would draw their own lines and not interfere with the other's.

    The House and Senate approved their maps on April 6 and 7, 2011, respectively. The House had an 86-8 approval vote, and the Senate went along party lines 22-18. Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) vetoed the maps on April 15, citing concerns about the increase in the number of divided communities, the Senate plan's higher deviation standard, and the partisan vote in the Senate.

    The Virginia House of Delegates passed a revised version of its redistricting plan on April 25, 2011.[25] A compromise was reached in the Senate on April 27, 2011, and a revised map was passed with a 32-5 vote.[26] McDonnell signed the revised legislative plan on April 29, 2011.[27]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Virginia House of Delegates has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the House to the Senate and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Virginia by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Virginia legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 10, 2024, and adjourn on March 9, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Virginia legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2023, and adjourn on February 25, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Virginia

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[36] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article IV of the Virginia Constitution establishes when the Virginia General Assembly, of which the House of Delegates is a part, is to be in session. Section 6 of Article IV states that the General Assembly is to convene annually on the second Wednesday in January. In even-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to sixty days. In odd-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to thirty days. Section 6 allows the General Assembly to extend its regular sessions by thirty days if two-thirds of each house vote to extend the session.

    Section 6 allows the Governor of Virginia to convene special sessions of the General Assembly. Section 6 also allows for a special session to be called when it is requested by two-thirds of the members of each house.[37]

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Virginia are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 67 of the 100 members in the Virginia House of Delegates and 27 of the 40 members in the Virginia State Senate. Virginia is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    According to Article IV, Section 6 of the Virginia Constitution, the legislature shall automatically reconvene in a special veto session six weeks after the adjournment of the regular session to consider veto overrides. The session lasts for three days unless a majority of members in both chambers vote to extend it for a period no longer than seven days.

    Authority: Article V, Section 6 of the Virginia Constitution.

    "(ii) The Governor may veto the bill if he objects to it by returning the bill with his objections to the house in which the bill originated. The house shall enter the objections in its journal and reconsider the bill. The house may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of the members present, which two-thirds shall include a majority of the members elected to that house. If the house of origin overrides the Governor's veto, it shall send the bill and Governor's objections to the other house where the bill shall be reconsidered. The second house may override the Governor's veto by a two-thirds vote of the members present, which two-thirds shall include a majority of the members elected to that house. If both houses override the Governor's veto, the bill shall become law without his signature."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Virginia state budget and finances
    Virginia on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[38]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
    2. State agency budget requests are submitted September through October.
    3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Virginia General Assembly in December.
    4. The General Assembly adopts a budget in March or April. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
    5. The biennial budget cycle begins in July.

    Virginia is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[38][39]

    The legislature is not required to pass, and the governor is not required to sign, a balanced budget. However, the governor is required to make sure actual expenditures do not exceed revenues by the end of the appropriation period.[38]

    What happens if the Virginia House is split 50-50?

    In the event of a tied chamber, the House would vote on a power-sharing agreement and the Clerk of the House would preside over the vote for a speaker. Any tie vote in the chamber would reject any agreement, speaker, or legislation.[40]

    In 1998, the chamber was split 50-50. Delegates adopted a power-sharing agreement by a 90-2 vote. This agreement left a Democrat as speaker but required the speaker to consult Republican leadership for committee assignments and committee membership was expanded. Committees had co-chairs from each party that rotated chair duties.[40]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Virginia state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Virginia House of Delegates has 15 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Virginia Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XII of the Virginia Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Virginia

    The Virginia Constitution can be amended through two different paths—a legislative process, and a constitutional convention. Virginia does not feature the power of initiative for either initiated constitutional amendments or initiated state statutes.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Virginia State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Virginia House of Delegates and 21 votes in the Virginia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    Convention

    See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

    Amendments to or revisions of the state's constitution can be proposed by a constitutional convention as established in Section 2 of Article XII. A convention can happen if the state's legislature "by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house" calls a convention.



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures were certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list



    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature.

    See also: Virginia 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures were certified for the ballot.

    See also

    Elections Virginia State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Virginia State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Virginia General Assembly, "Rules of the House of Delegates: 2020-2021," accessed February 16, 2021
    2. Virginia General Assembly, "The Virginia House of Delegates," accessed February 16, 2021
    3. Virginia Legislative Information System, "Code of Virginia - § 24.2-215. Election and term of members of the House of Delegates." accessed January 6, 2022
    4. Virginia General Assembly, "Certificate of Candidate Qualification," accessed February 10, 2023
    5. Following the election, one Democrat resigned and Republicans won the subsequent special election. The one independent also caucused with Republicans, giving the chamber a 50-50 split, decided through a power-sharing agreement.
    6. Virginia Department of Elections, "Calendars & Schedules," accessed February 6, 2021
    7. Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
    8. Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
    9. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2011 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    10. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2009 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    11. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2007 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    12. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2005 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    13. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2003 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    14. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2001 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    15. Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-216. Filling vacancies in the General Assembly," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 24.2-216, Virginia Code)
    16. Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-682. Times for special elections," accessed February 16, 2021
    17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Virginia's Legislative Information System, "HJ 615 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission (first reference)," accessed November 18, 2020
    18. All About Redistricting, "Virginia," accessed May 8, 2015
    19. 13News Now, "Virginia has new voting maps after redistricting process finishes," December 30, 2021
    20. ABC 7, "Virginia bipartisan redistricting panel starts off with partisan maps," September 20, 2021
    21. El Paso Inc., "First redistricting map drafts leave some lawmakers unhappy," September 2, 2021
    22. Virginia Mercury, "Virginia’s Redistricting Commission has its first draft maps. They look… normal?" September 2, 2021
    23. Associated Press, "Proposed congressional maps give Dems an edge in Virginia," December 9, 2021
    24. U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Virginia's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 3, 2011
    25. Washington Examiner, "Virginia House advances new redistricting plan," April 25, 2011
    26. Richmond Times-Dispatch, "General Assembly approves redistricting plan," April 29, 2011 (dead link)
    27. Richmond Times-Dispatch, "McDonnell signs redistricting bill," April 30, 2011
    28. pilotonline.com, "Lawmakers set to return for veto session," accessed February 16, 2021
    29. David Sherfinski, Washington Times, "Terry McAuliffe’s 2015 Va. agenda includes economics, health care," January 25, 2015
    30. Daily Press, "Virginia General Assembly opens, lawmakers ease back into action," January 8, 2014
    31. WRIC, "Virginia General Assembly To Convene For 2013 Session," January 9, 2013
    32. ncsl.org, "2012 Legislative Session Calendar," accessed February 16, 2021
    33. The Washington Post, "Virginia General Assembly to convene legislative redistricting session," April 3, 2011
    34. Post Local, "Va. assembly to vote Friday on Supreme Court, appeals judges," July 29, 2011
    35. Virginia General Assembly, "2010 Session calendar," accessed February 16, 2021
    36. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 16, 2021
    37. Virginia Law Library, "Constitution of Virginia," accessed February 16, 2021
    38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
    39. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
    40. 40.0 40.1 Virginia Places, "A 50-50 Tie in the House of Delegates," accessed November 2, 2021