Governor; confirming appointments.
SJR 60 is a joint resolution confirming a large slate of gubernatorial appointments made by Governor Abigail D. Spanberger and communicated to the General Assembly on January 21, 2026. The resolution covers cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and other executive branch officials, including leadership for natural and historic resources, commerce and trade, transportation, health and human resources, education, public safety, labor, finance, agriculture, veterans affairs, environmental quality, corrections, social services, elections, state police, and more. Most appointees are named to serve at the pleasure of the Governor, while a few positions have fixed terms or unexpired terms.
The resolution functions as legislative confirmation rather than a policy bill. Its practical effect is to authorize the listed individuals to hold the specified offices under Virginia law and continue or begin service in the executive branch. Because the measure is a confirmation resolution, it does not itself create new regulatory programs or amend substantive statutes, but it does affect the legal status of the named officeholders and the administration of the affected departments and agencies.
SJR 60 confirms the Governor’s appointments to key executive offices, thereby enabling the listed officials to lawfully serve in their roles and exercise the powers of those offices. The measure affects the operation of numerous state agencies and departments, including transportation, taxation, elections, health, education, public safety, corrections, environmental quality, and social services. It does not appear to amend the Code of Virginia or change substantive law beyond the personnel confirmations themselves.
The overall sentiment around the resolution appears strongly favorable and routine. The recorded votes show broad bipartisan support in both chambers, with overwhelming yeas and very few nays, indicating little controversy over the appointments as a package. The House did adopt an amendment, and the Senate later agreed to the House amendment, but the final outcome still reflected clear approval.
The main point of contention appears to have been limited and procedural rather than substantive. The House passed the resolution with an amendment and one recorded no vote, suggesting at least some disagreement with one or more appointments or with the amendment structure. The Senate then agreed to the House amendment without recorded opposition, indicating that any dispute was narrow and did not prevent final confirmation. The bill text itself does not identify specific objections to individual nominees.