Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted

HB494 — Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government, certain former federal employees.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0154)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 12, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 12, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 9 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government, certain former federal employees.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB494 on the official Virginia source →

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0154)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 154 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  4. H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  5. H Signed by Speaker

  6. S Signed by President

  7. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  8. H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB494ER)

  9. H Enrolled

  10. H Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)

  11. S Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  12. S Engrossed by Senate as amended

  13. S General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  14. S Read third time

  15. S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  16. S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. S Rules suspended

  18. S Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

  19. S Senate committee offered

  20. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  21. S Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  22. S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  23. H Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

  24. H Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended

  25. H Delegate Guzman Floor amendments agreed to

  26. H committee substitute agreed to

  27. H committee substitute rejected

  28. H Read second time

  29. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  30. H Read first time

  31. H Committee substitute printed 26107309D-H2

  32. H Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  33. H Placed on Appropriations Agenda

  34. H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)

  35. H House subcommittee offered

  36. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  37. H Placed on Appropriations Agenda

  38. H Committee substitute printed 26105902D-H1

  39. H Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  40. H Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  41. H Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)

  42. H Placed on General Laws Agenda

  43. H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 2-N)

  44. H House subcommittee offered

  45. H Placed on General Laws Agenda

  46. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  47. H Placed on General Laws Agenda

  48. H Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

  49. H Referred to Committee on General Laws

  50. H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102456D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 54 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Passed 63 Yea · 33 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 633303
Total 633303
% of votes cast 64%33%0%3%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Hillary Pugh Kent — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Nay
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Nay
Karen Hamilton — Nay
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Kirk McPike — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Not Voting
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Madison Whittle — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Margaret A. Franklin — Yea
Mark C. Downey — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Mitchell Cornett — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Nicole Cole — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Not Voting
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Not Voting
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Passed Senate with amendment

Passed 21 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211900
Total 211900
% of votes cast 53%48%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Nay
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Nay
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 37003
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Not Voting
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Not Voting
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Not Voting
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment

Passed 9 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9600
Total 9600
% of votes cast 60%40%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed House

Passed 61 Yea · 35 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 613504
Total 613504
% of votes cast 61%35%0%4%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Not Voting
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Hillary Pugh Kent — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Not Voting
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Nay
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Nay
Karen Hamilton — Nay
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Not Voting
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Madison Whittle — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Margaret A. Franklin — Yea
Mark C. Downey — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Mitchell Cornett — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Not Voting
Nicole Cole — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Appropriations with substitute

Passed 15 Yea · 7 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15700
Total 15700
% of votes cast 68%32%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Passed 15 Yea · 6 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15601
Total 15601
% of votes cast 68%27%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Not Voting
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Nay

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Passed 7 Yea · 2 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7202
Total 7202
% of votes cast 64%18%0%18%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Not Voting
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Nay
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Not Voting
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does HB494 do?
Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government, certain former federal employees.
Who sponsors HB494?
HB494 is sponsored by Elizabeth R. Guzman.
What is the current status of HB494?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 12, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB494?
Track HB494 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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