Confirming Governor's appointments; October 1.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Aaron Rouse

Confirms governor's appointments to state agencies, boards, and commissions, enabling appointees to serve and sustain governance; does not create policy or change funding.

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ274ER)

Purpose

Senate Joint Resolution 274 is a legislative confirmation of gubernatorial appointments that Governor Glenn Youngkin transmitted to the General Assembly on October 1, 2024. Its purpose is to approve individuals named to state agency leadership positions, advisory boards, commissions, and institutional governing boards so those appointees may serve in their designated roles.

Key provisions

Formally confirms the list of appointees addressed in the resolution, including:

Two agency senior leaders specified to “serve at the pleasure of the Governor”:
Nicole Overley — Commissioner, Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (term beginning Sept. 16, 2024), succeeding Carrie Roth.
Brian Wolford — Director, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (term beginning Aug. 10, 2024), succeeding Kishore Thota.
Numerous appointments to boards, commissions, and trusteeships across multiple state domains (Agriculture & Forestry; Commerce & Trade; Commonwealth advisory boards; Education; and others). The text specifies each appointee’s name, locality, board or office, appointment date, term length, term start and end dates, and the person being succeeded where applicable.

Many appointments specify fixed multi‑year terms (commonly two to five years) beginning on fiscal or calendar start dates (for example, July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028), while some leadership roles are “at the pleasure of the Governor.”

The resolution does not create new policy or appropriations; it acts solely to confirm listed appointments.

Who is affected

The named appointees and the state boards, commissions, agencies, museums, institutes, and advisory bodies to which they are appointed.

Agency operations and board governance benefit from confirmed leadership and membership (allowing full participation in rulemaking, oversight, program decisions, and institutional governance).

Procedural / timeline highlights

Introduced: January 14, 2025; referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections.

Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendments (Jan. 21 and Jan. 31); assigned PE subcommittee for Gubernatorial Appointments.

Senate actions: Reading waived, rules suspended; read third time and agreed to by the Senate on Jan. 27, 2025 (38–0).

House actions: Agreed to by the House of Delegates on Feb. 7, 2025 (94–0). A Privileges and Elections amendment was rejected by the House on Feb. 7.

Final enrolled text: SJ274ER (bill text as passed both chambers).

Expected impact

By confirming these appointments, the General Assembly enables the named individuals to serve in statutory and administrative roles, maintaining continuity of governance for numerous state agencies, advisory boards, and institutions. No substantive policy or budget changes are made by this resolution.

Bill