# Virginia HB1289: Geology; added to definition of "professional services," continuing education.

Virginia HB1289, Geology; added to definition of "professional services," continuing education., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Bill Wiley (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0462)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1289-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1289
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Geology; added to definition of "professional services," continuing education.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0462)
- Sponsor: Bill Wiley (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (216 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Professions and occupations; regulation of geologists. Adds geology to the definition of "professional services" as used in the Virginia Public Procurement Act. The bill also eliminates the option for the Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists to waive the examination requirement for licensure as a professional geologist for an applicant who has at least 12 years of geological work. The bill also requires the Board to promulgate regulations governing continuing education requirements for geologists licensed by the Board that require the completion of eight hours annually in continuing education for any license renewal or reinstatement. This bill is identical to SB 492.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Geology contractors gain professional status for contracts: benefit, low. Virginia’s public contracting law now treats geology work by independent contractors as professional services. Public bodies must use that classification when buying these services. This does not guarantee a contract award.
- Geologists face eight annual training hours: cost, low. The law requires Virginia’s Board to set rules for eight hours of continuing education annually for licensed professional geologists. The requirement applies to license renewal or reinstatement. Activities must directly relate to geology and meet learning, instructor, assessment, and completion-rec…
- Geologists face new rules for exam waivers: mixed, medium. Virginia’s licensing Board can waive the geology exam for applicants with a qualifying credential from another U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants must meet Virginia’s other licensing requirements and apply in writing. The unexpired credential must be a geology registration, certification, or license iss…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bill Wiley (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 95 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Reported from General Laws with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (31)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0462) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 462 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1289) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1289ER) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from General Laws and Technology (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-06: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1289) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26105942D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from General Laws with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-01-14: Presented and ordered printed 26102918D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217983.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217982.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177999.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177998.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115332.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115331.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102104.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103346.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102103.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103345.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088057.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088056.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217983.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217982.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177999.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177998.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115332.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115331.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102104.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103346.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102103.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103345.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088057.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088056.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1289-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).