Following an election cycle, each chamber must reorganize its committee structure. The recent trend in Virginia elections has been a massive change in the sheer number of new members. This past year was no different, and the shuffling around will continue as several members change chambers or move into the Spanberger Administration. Committee membership is a vital factor in legislative outcomes, as these policymakers are charged with thoroughly scrutinizing introduced bills using their expertise.
Below is a quick reminder of the rules each chamber uses for making committee assignments, along with side-by-side comparisons of how each committee has changed from the 2025 to the 2026 Session. This article does not delve into the updates to subcommittees.
Rules
House Rules for appointment of members to committees:
Rule 15. The Speaker will appoint all committee members and will designate the chairman and vice chairman of each committee, provided that no member will be chairman of more than one committee, unless a chairman of a standing committee is serving as Speaker pursuant to Rule 2, and no member will be vice chairman of more than one committee, as designated in Rule 16. If the chairman and vice chairman are absent or excused by the House, one of the members will act as the chairman, taking precedence in the order named by the Speaker. The Speaker will serve as chairman of the Committee on Rules.
Senate Rules:
18. At the commencement of each session after the election of Senators, a nominations report shall be submitted by the majority caucus to elect members to the standing Committees and the Committee on Rules for terms coincident with their terms of office in such numbers as hereinafter set forth. Such members shall be elected by a majority vote of those present and voting. Each standing Committee and the Committee on Rules shall consist of 15 Senators.
Committee Membership
House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
2025: Lopez (Chair), Clark (Vice Chair), Bulova, Tran, Helmer, Simonds, Willett, Herring, Krizek, Glass, Hernandez, Laufer, Ware, Wright, Orrock, Marshall, Wilt, Webert, Bloxom, Fowler, Runion, Kent
2026: Lopez (Chair), Clark (Vice Chair), Tran, Simonds, Willett, Herring, Krizek, Glass, Hernandez, Laufer, Martinez, McAuliff, Pope Adams, Thornton, Franklin, Ware, Wright, Wilt, Webert, Bloxom, Fowler, Kent
House Appropriations
2025: Torian (Chair), Sickles (Vice Chair), Bulova, Carr, McQuinn, Krizek, Hayes, Reid, Rasoul, Willett, Sewell, Askew, Austin, Morefield, Bloxom, Marshall, Hodges, Coyner, Wyatt, Wiley, McLaughlin, Tata
2026: Torian (Chair), Carr (Vice Chair), McQuinn, Krizek, Hayes, Reid, Willett, Sewell, Askew, Herring, Price, Tran, Simonds, Thomas, Laufer, Austin, Morefield, Bloxom, Hodges, Wyatt, Wiley, McLaughlin
House Communications, Technology and Innovation
2025: Hayes (Chair), Shin (Vice Chair), Lopez, Ward, Clark, Glass, Seibold, Maldonado, Henson, Jones*, Keys-Gamarra, Martinez, McNamara, Hodges, Taylor, Cordoza, Wright, Freitas, Wachsmann, Griffin, Earley, Lovejoy
2026: Hayes (Chair), Shin (Vice Chair), Lopez, Ward, Glass, Seibold, Maldonado, Henson, Jones*, Keys-Gamarra, Martinez, Sickles*, Dougherty, Franklin, Singh, McNamara, Wright, Wachsmann, Griffin, Oates, Hamilton, Pence
*There will be further changes to this committee. Delegates Jones and Sickles will both be replaced shortly as Delegate Jones moves to the Senate and Delegate Sickles becomes Secretary of Finance.
House Counties, Cities and Towns
2025: Mundon King (Chair), Bennett-Parker (Vice Chair), Sewell, Shin, Simonds, Askew, Reaser, Callsen, Cohen, Jones, Gardner, Martinez, Knight, Morefield, Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata, McLaughlin, Oates, Higgins, Lovejoy
2026: Helmer (Chair), Sewell (Vice Chair), Shin, Simonds, Askew, Mundon King*, Cohen, Martinez, Downey, Nivar, Thornton, Anderson, Cole, N.T., Dougherty, Sickles*, Knight, Morefield, Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata, McLaughlin
*There will be further updates to this committee as Delegate’s Mundon King and Sickles join the Spanberger Administration as Secretary of the Commonwealth and Secretary of Finance.
House Courts of Justice
2025: Hope (Chair), Simon (Vice Chair), Watts, Sullivan, Delaney, Maldonado, Hernandez, Cousins, Reaser, Thomas, Callsen, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore, Leftwich, Ballard, Williams, Batten, Cordoza, Arnold, Davis, Obenshain, Earley
2026: Hope (Chair), Maldonado (Vice Chair), Watts, Simon, Sullivan, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Reaser, Callsen, Keys-Gamarra, Jones, Mehta, Carnegie, Thornton, Kilgore, Leftwich, Ballard, Williams, Davis, Whittle, Pence
House Education
2025: Rasoul (Chair), Simonds (Vice Chair), McQuinn, Sewell, Convirs-Fowler, Askew, Clark, Cousins, Reaser, Laufer, Cohen, LeVere Bolling, Batten, Freitas, Cherry, Tata, Scott, P.A., Garrett, Ennis, Green, Zehr
2026: Rasoul (Chair), Simonds (Vice Chair), Bulova, McQuinn, Guzman, Sewell, Convirs-Fowler, Askew, Clark, Cousins, Reaser, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Anderson, Dougherty, Cherry, Tata, Scott P.A., Garrett, Zehr, Kent, Whittle
House Finance
2025: Watts (Chair), Sullivan (Vice Chair), Mundon King*, Bennett-Parker*, Tran, Simonds, Hernandez, Laufer, Anthony, Callsen, Gardner, Keys-Gamarra, Orrock, Ware, Fowler, Freitas, McNamara, Walker, Runion, Garrett, Davis, Kent
2026: Watts (Chair), Hernandez (Vice Chair), Sullivan, Mundon King*, Bennett-Parker*, Anthony, Callsen, Gardner, Keys-Gamarra, Bulova*, Maldonado, Pope Adams, Cole, N.T., Carroll, Dougherty, Ware, Fowler, McNamara, Walker, Runion, Garrett, Davis
*There will be addition updates to this committee as Delegate Bulova and Mundon King join the Administration and Delegate Bennett Parker moves to the Senate.
House General Laws
2025: Bulova (Chair), Carr (Vice Chair), Torian, Price, Krizek, Simon, Delaney, Bennett-Parker, Seibold, Cole, J.G., McClure, Thomas, Knight, Leftwich, Morefield, Fowler, Austin, Bloxom, Wiley, McLaughlin, Arnold
2026: Krizek (Chair), Seibold (Vice Chair), Carr, Torian, Price, Simon, Delaney, Cole J.G., McClure, Hernandez, Reaser, Callsen, Guzman, Carroll, Franklin, Knight, Morefield, Fowler, Austin, Bloxom, Wiley, McLaughlin
House Health and Human Services
2025: Sickles (Chair), Tran (Vice Chair), Hope, Price, Hayes, Willett, Herring, Shin, Cole, J.G., Henson, Gardner, Singh, Orrock, Hodges, Walker, Cherry, Scott, P.A., Wachsmann, Taylor, Ennis, Higgins, Owen
2026: Willett (Chair), Tran (Vice Chair), Sickles*, Hope, Price, Hayes, Rasoul, Herring, Shin, Cole, J.G., Henson, Gardner, Cohen, Downey, Cole, N.T., Hodges, Walker, Cherry, Scott, P.A., Wachsmann, Griffin, Cornett
House Labor and Commerce
2025: Ward (Chair), Herring (Vice Chair), Lopez, Sullivan, Convirs-Fowler, Helmer, Mundon King, Maldonado, Shin, Jones, LeVere Bolling, Feggans, Kilgore, Marshall, Gilbert, O’Quinn, Webert, Wilt, McNamara, Runion, Ballard, Williams
2026: Ward (Chair), Sullivan (Vice Chair), Lopez, Convirs-Fowler, Helmer, Maldonado, Shin, LeVere Bolling, Feggans, Clark, Cousins, Anthony, Cohen, Singh, Nivar, Kilgore, O’Quinn, Webert, Wilt, Runion, Ballard, Williams
House Privileges and Elections
2025: Price (Chair), Convirs-Fowler (Vice Chair), Sickles, Krizek, Reid, Maldonado, Glass, Cole, J.G., Henson, Anthony, LeVere Bolling, Singh, Gilbert, O’Quinn, Leftwich, Bloxom, Scott, P.A., Wachsmann, Cherry, Milde, Green, Phillips
2026: Price (Chair), Convirs-Fowler (Vice Chair), Krizek, Reid, Glass, Cole J.G., Henson, Anthony, LeVere Bolling, Singh, Bulova, McAuliff, Carnegie, Carroll, N. Cole, O’Quinn, Leftwich, Bloxom, Scott P.A., Wachsmann, Cherry, Phillips
House Public Safety
2025: Simon (Chair), Mundon King (Vice Chair), Hope, Lopez, Rasoul, Clark, Helmer, Seibold, McClure, Cousins, Thomas, Feggans, Batten, Wilt, Webert, Cordoza, Taylor, Ennis, Oates, Obenshain, Owen, Phillips
2026: Simon (Chair), McClure (Vice Chair), Hope, Lopez, Rasoul, Clark, Helmer, Seibold, Cousins, Bennett-Parker*, Thomas, Feggans, Gardner, Pope Adams, Anderson, Wilt, Webert, Oates, Phillips, Zehr, Cornett, Hamilton
House Rules
2025: Scott, D. (Chair), Helmer (Vice Chair), Watts, Ward, Sickles, Herring, Carr, Torian, Simon, Hayes, Sullivan, Tran, Gilbert, Kilgore, Austin, Webert, O’Quinn, McLaughlin
2026: Scott, D. (Chair), Herring (Vice Chair), Watts, Ward, Carr, Torian, Simon, Sullivan, Hayes, Tran, Helmer, Hope, Kilgore, Ware, Austin, Webert, O’Quinn, McLaughlin
House Transportation
2025: Delaney (Chair), Reid (Vice Chair), Ward, McQuinn, Carr, Watts, Sewell, Glass, McClure, Anthony, Cohen, Feggans, Knight, Austin, Wyatt, Wiley, O’Quinn, Ballard, Williams, Griffin, Milde, Zehr
2026: Delaney (Chair), Reid (Vice Chair), Ward, McQuinn, Carr, Watts, Sewell, Glass, McClure, Anthony, Feggans, Bennett-Parker*, Guzman, Mehta, Thomas, Knight, Austin, Wyatt, Wiley, O’Quinn, Ballard, Williams
*There will be further changes to this committee when Delegate Bennett Parker moves to the Senate.
Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
2025: Marsden (Chair), Obenshain, Stuart, Stanley, Suetterlein, Hashmi, Hackworth, Williams Graves, Perry, Pekarsky, French, Salim, Mulchi, Srinivasan, Roem
2026: Marsden (Chair), Obenshain, Stuart, Stanley, Suetterlein, Hackworth, Williams Graves, Perry, Pekarsky, French, Salim, Mulchi, Roem, Srinivasan, Vacant
Senate Commerce and Labor
2025: Deeds (Chair), Obenshain, Lucas, Marsden, Ebbin, Surovell, Stanley, McDougle, Locke, Reeves, DeSteph, McPike, Peake, Rouse, Bagby
2026: Deeds (Chair), Obenshain, Lucas, Marsden, Ebbin*, Surovell, Stanley, McDougle, Locke, Reeves, DeSteph, McPike, Peake, Rouse, Bagby
*Senator Ebbin will need to be replaced in a few weeks as he is resigning on February 18 to join the Spanberger Administration
Senate Courts of Justice
2025: Surovell (Chair), Obenshain, McDougle, Deeds, Stuart, Stanley, Boysko, Peake, Bagby, Jordan, Aird, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim, Favola
2026: Surovell (Chair), Obenshain, McDougle, Deeds, Stuart, Stanley, Boysko, Peake, Bagby, Aird, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim, Favola, Sturtevant
Senate Education and Health
2025: Hashmi (Chair), Lucas, Locke, Suetterlein, Peake, Pillion, Favola, Boysko, Bagby, Head, Aird, VanValkenburg, Durant, Pekarsky, Craig
2026: Favola (Chair), Lucas, Locke, Suetterlein, Peake, Pillion, Boysko, Bagby, Head, Aird, VanValkenburg, Durant, Pekarsky, Craig, Perry
Senate Finance and Appropriations
2025: Lucas (Chair), Deeds, Locke, Marsden, Ebbin, McDougle, Obenshain, Stuart, Reeves, Favola, Surovell, McPike, Boysko, Pillion, Hashmi
2026: Lucas (Chair), Deeds, Locke, Marsden, Ebbin*, McDougle, Obenshain, Stuart, Reeves, Favola, Surovell, McPike, Boysko, Pillion, Rouse
*Senator Ebbin will need to be replaced in a few weeks as he is resigning on February 18 to join the Spanberger Administration
Senate General Laws and Technology
2025: Ebbin (Chair), Locke, Reeves, McPike, Pillion, Rouse, Head, Jordan, Aird, VanValkenburg, Roem, Carroll Foy, French, Craig, Williams Graves
2026: Ebbin (Chair)*, Locke, Reeves, McPike, Pillion, Rouse, Head, Jordan, Aird, VanValkenburg, Roem, Carroll Foy, French, Craig, Williams Graves
*Senator Ebbin will need to be replaced in a few weeks as he is resigning on February 18 to join the Spanberger Administration
Senate Local Government
2025: McPike (Chair), Stanley, Hackworth, Suetterlein, Sturtevant, Aird, VanValkenburg, Roem, Williams Graves, Durant, Diggs, Pekarsky, Srinivasan, Cifers, Boysko
2026: McPike (Chair), Stanley, Hackworth, Suetterlein, Sturtevant, Aird, VanValkenburg, Roem, Williams Graves, Durant, Diggs, Pekarsky, Srinivasan, Cifers, Boysko
Senate Privileges and Elections
2025: Rouse (Chair), Deeds, Ebbin, Hackworth, DeSteph, Sturtevant, VanValkenburg, Carroll Foy, Durant, Perry, Diggs, Salim, Mulchi, Srinivasan, Cifers
2026: Rouse (Chair), Deeds, Ebbin, Hackworth, DeSteph, VanValkenburg, Carroll Foy, Durant, Perry, Diggs, Salim, Mulchi, Srinivasan, Cifers, Jordan
Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services
2025: Favola (Chair), McDougle, Reeves, Surovell, DeSteph, Rouse, Head, Jordan, VanValkenburg, Williams Graves, Carroll Foy, Perry, French, Salim, Craig
2026: VanValkenburg (Chair), McDougle, Reeves, Favola, Surovell, DeSteph, Head, Jordan, Williams Graves, Carroll Foy, French, Salim, Peake, Roem, Vacant
Senate Rules
2025: Locke (Chair), Lucas, Deeds, Marsden, Favola, Ebbin, McPike, Surovell, Hashmi, Rouse, Bagby, McDougle, Stuart, Peake, Pillion
2026: Locke (Chair), Lucas, Deeds, Marsden, Favola, Ebbin, McPike, Surovell, Rouse, Bagby, McDougle, Stuart, Pillion, Craig, Vacant
Senate Transportation
2025: Bagby (Chair), Marsden, DeSteph, Suetterlein, Boysko, Hashmi, Hackworth, Sturtevant, Aird, Roem, Diggs, Pekarsky, Mulchi, Srinivasan, Cifers
2026: Bagby (Chair), Marsden, DeSteph, Suetterlein, Boysko, Hackworth, Sturtevant, Aird, Roem, Diggs, Pekarsky, Mulchi, Srinivasan, Cifers, Vacant
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