Limiting legislation to be considered by the 2026 Special Session I of the General Assembly and establishing a schedule for the conduct of business coming before such Special Session.
Summary
House Resolution 2069 sets the rules and agenda for the 2026 Special Session I of the Virginia General Assembly. It limits what legislation may be introduced or considered during the special session, generally restricting business to the budget bill, commending or memorial resolutions, measures affecting legislative procedure or scheduling, and certain election or confirmation matters. It also allows the House to recess and be recalled on 48 hours' notice by the Speaker.
The resolution defines the “Budget Bill” for the special session as the general appropriation bill covering state spending from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. It further establishes special procedures for that budget bill: no committee or floor amendments may be considered, the House generally must wait 48 hours after introduction before taking it up unless two-thirds vote to proceed sooner, and a concurrent report must identify any new items or items that revive legislation that failed during the regular session. The resolution also eliminates the need for engrossment of the budget bill.
Impact
HR 2069 affects House procedure and the scope of legislation eligible for consideration during the 2026 Special Session I, rather than changing substantive state law. It constrains the General Assembly’s agenda, governs how the budget bill may be handled, and sets reporting and timing requirements that apply to the special session’s budget process. The resolution primarily impacts legislators, legislative staff, and the budget bill itself by limiting amendments and accelerating or structuring floor consideration.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support and little to no opposition: the House agreed to the resolution by a unanimous 77-0 vote in the recorded context, with the vote summary indicating 93-0-0. No committee transcript is available, but the lack of recorded dissent indicates broad agreement on the need to organize the special session and control its scope.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy choice embedded in the resolution is to tightly limit the special session to budget and procedural matters, which can restrict members from advancing unrelated legislation and reduce amendment opportunities on the budget bill. Any disagreement would likely center on those procedural limits, the prohibition on amendments, and the expedited timeline for considering the budget, but no specific objections are documented in the provided materials.