Bill Commons

VA HB 231

dead

Autism Advisory Council; name change, membership, staffing, powers and duties.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 231 pass?

No. VA HB 231 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process (2026-03-14). Latest recorded action (2026-03-14): Failed to Pass from conference

What is VA HB 231 about?

Autism Advisory Council; name change; membership; staffing; powers and duties. Provides for the Autism Advisory Council to be reconstituted as a permanent, independently staffed agency in the legislative branch of state government. Currently, the Autism Advisory Council is set to expire on July 1, 2027. The bill repeals the expiration date and renames the agency as the Autism Commission. The bill also modifies the membership of the Commission to more closely align with the membership makeup of other independently staffed legislative agencies and directs the Commission to appoint and employ an executive director and other staff to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission.

Who sponsors VA HB 231?

Laura Jane Cohen is the primary sponsor of VA HB 231, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

Autism Advisory Council; name change; membership; staffing; powers and duties. Provides for the Autism Advisory Council to be reconstituted as a permanent, independently staffed agency in the legislative branch of state government. Currently, the Autism Advisory Council is set to expire on July 1, 2027. The bill repeals the expiration date and renames the agency as the Autism Commission. The bill also modifies the membership of the Commission to more closely align with the membership makeup of other independently staffed legislative agencies and directs the Commission to appoint and employ an executive director and other staff to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission.

Introduced
2026-01-08
Latest action
2026-03-14 — Failed to Pass from conference
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Laura Jane Cohenprimary
  • Adele Y. McClurecosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-08

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103423D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-08

    Referred to Committee on Rules

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-13

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB231)

  4. 2026-01-22

    Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

    referral-committee

  5. 2026-01-23

    House subcommittee offered

  6. 2026-01-23

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 0-N)

    substitution

  7. 2026-01-27

    Reported from Rules with substitute and referred to Appropriations (18-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  8. 2026-01-27

    Committee substitute printed 26105307D-H1

    substitution

  9. 2026-01-27

    Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

    referral-committee

  10. 2026-01-28

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB231)

  11. 2026-01-30

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N)

  12. 2026-02-02

    Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  13. 2026-02-04

    Read first time

    reading-1

  14. 2026-02-05

    Read second time

    reading-2

  15. 2026-02-05

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  16. 2026-02-05

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  17. 2026-02-05

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  18. 2026-02-06

    Read third time and passed House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  19. 2026-02-09

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  20. 2026-02-09

    Referred to Committee on Rules

    referral-committee

  21. 2026-02-27

    Reported from Rules with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  22. 2026-02-27

    Committee substitute printed 26108863D-S1

    substitution

  23. 2026-03-02

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB231)

  24. 2026-03-06

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  25. 2026-03-09

    Rules suspended

  26. 2026-03-09

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. 2026-03-09

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-03-10

    Read third time

    reading-3

  29. 2026-03-10

    Rules Substitute agreed to

  30. 2026-03-10

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  31. 2026-03-10

    Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  32. 2026-03-11

    Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 98-N 0-A)

  33. 2026-03-12

    Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    substitution

  34. 2026-03-12

    Senate requested conference committee

    referral-committee

  35. 2026-03-12

    House acceded to request

  36. 2026-03-12

    Conferees appointed by House

  37. 2026-03-12

    House Conferees: Cohen, Tran, McLaughlin

  38. 2026-03-12

    Conferees appointed by Senate

  39. 2026-03-12

    Senate Conferees: Aird, Locke, McDougle

  40. 2026-03-14

    No further action taken

  41. 2026-03-14

    Failed to Pass from conference

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-01-23 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes

  • Reported from Rules with substitute

    2026-01-27 · pass · 18-0

    Member-level votes (18)
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting

    2026-01-30 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: not voting
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes

  • Reported from Appropriations

    2026-02-02 · pass · 22-0

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-06 · pass · 93-4

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: not voting
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: not voting
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Rules with substitute

    2026-02-27 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: not voting
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes

  • Reported from Finance and Appropriations

    2026-03-06 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: not voting
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-09 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-10 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-11 · fail · 1-98

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: no
    • Bonita G. Anthony: no
    • Alex Q. Askew: no
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: no
    • Katrina Callsen: no
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
    • Betsy B. Carr: no
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: no
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: no
    • Laura Jane Cohen: no
    • Joshua G. Cole: no
    • Nicole Cole: no
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: no
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: no
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: no
    • Lindsey Dougherty: no
    • Mark C. Downey: no
    • Michael B. Feggans: no
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: no
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: no
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: no
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: no
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: no
    • Dan I. Helmer: no
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: no
    • Phil M. Hernandez: no
    • Charniele L. Herring: no
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: no
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: no
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: no
    • Amy J. Laufer: no
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: no
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: no
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: no
    • Marty Martinez: no
    • John Chilton McAuliff: no
    • Adele Y. McClure: no
    • Garrett McGuire: no
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Kirk McPike: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: no
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: no
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: no
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: no
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
    • Sam Rasoul: no
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: no
    • David A. Reid: no
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: no
    • Don Scott: no
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: no
    • Briana D. Sewell: no
    • Irene Shin: no
    • Marcus B. Simon: no
    • Shelly A. Simonds: no
    • JJ Singh: no
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: no
    • Virgil Thornton: no
    • Luke E. Torian: no
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: no
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: no
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: no
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: no
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Insist & Request R

    2026-03-12 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB231

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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