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HJ 317

General Assembly; Governor to call special session, establishing a schedule for conduct of business.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Charniele Herring

Requires the Governor to convene a special session on April 23, 2026 to consider the Budget Bill for FY 2027–FY 2028, under a defined procedural framework.

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ317ER)
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Bill Summary · HJ 317

Bill Summary: HJ 317 (2026) – Virginia

Overview

  • Type: House Joint Resolution (HJ)
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Virginia
  • Title: General Assembly; Governor to call special session, establishing a schedule for conduct of business
  • Introduced: March 14, 2026
  • Sponsor: Primary sponsor: Deleg. Herring; Co-sponsor: Charniele Herring
  • Status: Passed both chambers (as of action history: HJ317ER on 2026-04-13)

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution applies to the Governor to convene a special session of the General Assembly and sets a schedule for the conduct of business to be considered during that session.
  • Specifically seeks to compel the Governor to call a special session for the purpose of considering the Budget Bill and “such other matters as are provided for in the procedural resolution adopted to govern the conduct of business coming before such Special Session.”

Key Provisions

  • Call for Special Session:

    • The General Assembly requests the Governor to convene a special session on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m..
    • The session is to focus on the Budget Bill and related matters outlined in a procedural resolution that governs the conduct of business at the special session.

  • Session Scheduling and Conduct:

    • After the initial convening, the special session may recess from time to time and reconvene by joint call of:
    • The Speaker of the House of Delegates, and
    • The Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules.
    • The proceedings are to be governed by a procedural resolution adopted to manage the special session.

  • Budget Bill Definition and Handling:

    • The resolution defines the “Budget Bill” as a general appropriation bill that authorizes the biennial expenditure of public revenues for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
    • Engrossment of the Budget Bill: The resolution provides that no engrossment of the Budget Bill shall be required in either house during the special session.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Virginia General Assembly (House of Delegates and Senate): Required to consider and vote on the Budget Bill and other matters identified in the procedural resolution.
  • Governor: Directed/requested to convene the special session on the specified date and time.
  • State Budget Process: The Budget Bill’s consideration will occur in a special session with a defined biennial expenditure period (FY 2027–FY 2028, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028).

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Constitutional Basis: The resolution cites Article IV, Section 6 of the Virginia Constitution, which authorizes a special session upon application by two-thirds of members elected to each house, and this measure constitutes that application.
  • Date/Time: Special session proposed for April 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
  • Recessability: The session may recess and reconvene as needed, per the joint call and procedural resolution.
  • Engrossment Rule: The Budget Bill does not require engrossment in either chamber during the special session, per the resolution.

Summary Assessment

HJ 317 is a procedural measure designed to compel the Governor to convene a special session focused on the state Budget Bill, with a clear biennial expenditure period and a defined governance framework (procedural resolution for conduct). It streamlines the initial handling of the Budget Bill by removing the requirement for engrossment during the special session and sets a structured process for reconvening as needed. The bill primarily affects legislative procedure and timing, with direct impact on budget deliberations and the pathways for approving the state’s biennial appropriation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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