# Virginia SB492: Geology; added to definition of "professional services," continuing education. Virginia SB492, Geology; added to definition of "professional services," continuing education., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0463)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB492-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB492 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Geology; added to definition of "professional services," continuing education. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0463) - Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 7 (212 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## 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 HB 1289. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Exam waivers for some Virginia geologists: benefit, low. Virginia’s licensing Board can waive the professional geologist exam for qualifying applicants who meet the other license requirements. Listed conditions reference a written application and at least 12 years of geological work, including specified qualifying work. The bill summary also identifies c… - Geologists face training rules with flexibility: mixed, low. The law requires Board rules setting 8 hours of annual continuing education for Virginia geologists renewing or reinstating licenses. Hours must be completed beforehand and count only for that renewal or reinstatement, except for allowed carryover. Geologists can carry up to 8 extra hours into thei… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-24 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 | | | 2026-02-19 | House | Reported from General Laws | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-01-26 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-01-21 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | 15 | 0 | | ## Actions (28) - 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0463) (Governor) - 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 463 (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 (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB492) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB492ER) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-24: Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-24: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-23: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-19: Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-03: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House) - 2026-02-03: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-03: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB492) (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Engrossed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104900D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217991.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217990.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178964.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178963.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090480.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090479.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/1217991.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217990.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178964.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178963.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090480.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090479.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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB492-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).