# Virginia SB949: American Indians, Va. recognized tribes, and federally recognized tribes; definitions, sovereignty. Virginia SB949, American Indians, Va. recognized tribes, and federally recognized tribes; definitions, sovereignty., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Ryan T. McDougle (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-05-02 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB949-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB949 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: American Indians, Va. recognized tribes, and federally recognized tribes; definitions, sovereignty. - Status: to governor - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-06 - Last action: 2025-05-02, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Ryan T. McDougle (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (243 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Definitions; American Indians; Virginia recognized tribes; federally recognized tribes; sovereignty. Establishes definitions for "American Indian," "federally recognized tribe," and "Virginia recognized tribe" and amends various sections throughout the Code for the purpose of uniformity in terminology. This bill is identical to HB 2134. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ryan T. McDougle (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-18 | Senate | House Amendments agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-14 | House | Passed House with amendments Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | House | Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) | pass | 19 | 0 | | | 2025-01-29 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-01-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 37 | 1 | | | 2025-01-24 | Senate | Reported from Rules | pass | 13 | 0 | | ## Actions (32) - 2025-05-02: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor) - 2025-03-05: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-05: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 5, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB949) (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB949ER) (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Enrolled (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-18: House Amendments agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Passed House with amendments Block Vote (96-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-02-14: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2025-02-14: General Laws Amendments agreed to (House) - 2025-02-14: Read third time (House) - 2025-02-13: Read second time (House) - 2025-02-11: Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (19-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House) - 2025-02-05: Read first time (House) - 2025-02-05: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2025-01-29: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Engrossed by Senate (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Read second time (Senate) - 2025-01-27: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (37-Y 1-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-27: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-01-27: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Reported from Rules (13-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-06: Introduced bill reprinted 25103613D (Senate) - 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Rules (Senate) - 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103613D (Senate) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080105.HTML) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074593.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-02-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059730.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059729.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052813.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047019.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047353.HTML) - Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014608.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014607.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080105.HTML) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074593.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059730.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059729.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052813.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047019.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047353.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014608.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014607.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [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-SB949-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).