# Virginia HB1299: Rules of construction; use of "shall," effective clause, report.

Virginia HB1299, Rules of construction; use of "shall," effective clause, report., is a 2027 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic); status passed house, last action 2026-07-21 (Continued from last session) (as of 2026-10-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1299-2027
- As of: 2026-10-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1299
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Rules of construction; use of "shall," effective clause, report.
- Status: passed house
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-07-21, Continued from last session
- Sponsor: Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Rules of construction; use of "shall." Provides that "shall," as used in the Code of Virginia, establishes a mandatory requirement and is not merely directory, unless the statute explicitly provides otherwise. The bill responds to the holding in Henderson v. Commonwealth, 77 Va. App. 250 (2023), in which the Court of Appeals held that when the General Assembly uses "shall" in a statute commanding action by a public official or public body such usage is directory and not mandatory. The foregoing provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly. The bill requires, effective in due course, the Virginia Code Commission to review the bill's provisions and evaluate the bill's effect on the Code of Virginia and to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than December 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic), House

## Actions (15)

- 2026-07-21: Continued from last session (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Continued to 2027 in Courts of Justice (11-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-11: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from Rules with amendment(s) (16-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-28: Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Rules (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-15: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-15: Presented and ordered printed 26104509D (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230295.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230294.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20271/HB1299)
- Introduced, 2026-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1228706.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1228705.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority, report. (in committee)
- HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements. (introduced)
- HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information. (introduced)
- SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset. (in committee)
- SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment. (in committee)
- SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion State Prison. (in committee)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230295.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230294.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20271/HB1299)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1228706.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1228705.PDF)

## Related
- [SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority, report.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB844-2027)
- [HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1535-2027)
- [HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1534-2027)
- [SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB843-2027)
- [SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB842-2027)
- [SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion Sta…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB840-2027)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1299-2027 (as of 2026-10-13).