HB 1291 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Geologists; regulations, exemptions.

Summary
Professions and occupations; regulation of geologists; exemptions. Exempts the practice of geology by any officer, employee, agent, or contractor of the United States of America when practicing solely as such from the licensing requirements for professional geologists.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill has been formally enacted into law as Chapter 282 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The primary changes are formatting updates to the official text, including the addition of the chapter number, the specific approval date (April 6, 2026), and standard spacing conventions. The substantive legal content regarding the licensing of professional geologists, including exemptions and purposes, remains unchanged.
Scope change
The scope of the law remains identical; no new professions, exemptions, or restrictions were added or removed.
TECHNICAL

Added the official chapter number (Chapter 282) and the specific approval date (April 6, 2026) to the header.

Adjusted line breaks and spacing throughout the text to match the standard format for enacted laws.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Mar 6, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 282 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1291ER)
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26101526D
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bill Wiley
Bill Wiley
RRepublican
VA
32