VirginiaHB13112026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Employees of state government; personal interest in certain contracts prohibited.

Sponsored By: Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31 (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Employees of state government; personal interest in certain contracts prohibited; certain exception for certain employees of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. Excludes from the prohibition against any officer or employee of any governmental agency of state government having a personal interest in a contract with the governmental agency of which he is an officer or employee, other than his own contract of employment, the personal interest of an employee of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in a contract between the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind and a publisher or wholesaler of textbooks or other educational materials for students that accrues to him solely because he has authored or otherwise created such textbooks or materials. This bill is identical to SB 816.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Everyday exceptions for state employees

You may keep a personal interest that comes from an immediate family member’s job at your agency if you do not control or influence their work. At public colleges, if both family members are in teaching, research, or support roles, the board must find the dual jobs are in the school’s and Commonwealth’s best interest and make sure neither can solely supervise the other. Your job with another state agency is allowed. Sales at uniform public prices are allowed. If you authored textbooks or other educational materials, contracts tied only to your authorship are allowed. Your institution can buy your scholarly works if the president finds the purchase serves the school’s public mission.

State workers barred from conflicted contracts

The law bars state officers and employees from having a personal financial interest in contracts with their own agency, other than their own job. It also bars interests in contracts with other state agencies unless the deal is won by competitive sealed bidding or competitive negotiation. An agency head can also allow it with a written finding that competition is against the public interest.

College research and patient-care contract rules

Public colleges can approve certain contracts even when an employee has a business interest. This covers research and commercialization of school inventions, clinical practice corporations, and goods or services needed for quality patient care. You must disclose your interest before any contract and file a conflict disclosure each year by February 1. The board of visitors must approve (or a president if the board formally delegates), and the school must have a SCHEV‑approved policy for research deals. For patient‑care contracts, you cannot take part in the decision, and the president must certify in writing that the purchase is needed for quality care. Schools must report open contracts to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by December 31 each year; if approvals are delegated, the president must also report to the board by December 1. The Eastern Virginia Health Sciences Center may follow federal conflict rules instead, if it notifies the Secretary by January 31 each year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/18/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote 2/9/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/3/2026

Reported from General Laws

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0292)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 292 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1311)

    3/2/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1311ER)

    2/25/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    2/25/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    2/25/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/25/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/23/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/20/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/20/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/20/2026Senate
  15. Reported from General Laws and Technology (13-Y 0-N)

    2/18/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    2/10/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/10/2026Senate
  18. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/9/2026House
  19. Read second time and engrossed

    2/6/2026House
  20. Read first time

    2/5/2026House
  21. Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

    2/3/2026House
  22. Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

    1/29/2026House
  23. Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

    1/26/2026House
  24. Referred to Committee on General Laws

    1/16/2026House
  25. Presented and ordered printed 26104435D

    1/16/2026House

Bill Text

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