The 162nd Virginia General Assembly, consisting of members who were elected in both the House election in 2021 and the Senate election in 2019, convened on January 12, 2022. The legislature is the first since the 156th Assembly ended in 2012 to be of divided party control, with Republicans again controlling the House of Delegates and Democrats holding the Senate.
The 2024 session ran from January 12 to March 12, 2022, and the 2023 session ran from January 11 to February 25, 2023. A special session was called by Governor Glenn Youngkin for April 4, 2022 to complete the 2023-2024 budget. While the House had adjourned its special session sine die on September 7, 2022 and later reconvened from September 6 to October 9, 2023, the Senate continued its special session until December 11, 2023.
Membership
On November 14, 2021, the incoming Republican majority in the House unanimously nominated Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) for Speaker of the House of Delegates and Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Scott County) for Majority Leader. Both confirmations by the full body are pending as of .
For the third consecutive time since the beginning of the 160th Assembly in 2018, a record number of women are serving in the legislature: 34 in the House and 11 in the Senate, with the House having seen an increase of four women from the 161st Assembly.
Leadership
Senate
Senate Majority Leader: Dick Saslaw (D) Senate Minority Leader: Tommy Norment (R) Senate Majority Caucus Chair: Mamie Locke (D) Senate President pro-tempore: L. Louise Lucas (D) Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair: Scott Surovell (D) Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair for Policy: Jeremy McPike (D) Senate Majority Caucus Secretary: Jennifer McClellan (D) Senate Majority Caucus Treasurer: Ghazala Hashmi (D) Senate Majority Whips: Barbara Favola (D) and Lionell Spruill (D) Senate Majority Sergeant at Arms: Jennifer Boysko (D) Clerk: Susan Clarke Schaar
Committee chairs and ranking members The Senate of Virginia has 10 Standing Committees and a Committee on Rules. CommitteeChairRanking Minority MemberAgriculture, Conservation and Natural ResourcesChap PetersenEmmett HangerCommerce and LaborDick SaslawTommy NormentJudiciaryJohn S. EdwardsTommy NormentEducation and HealthLouise LucasStephen NewmanFinance and AppropriationsJanet HowellTommy NormentGeneral Laws and TechnologyGeorge BarkerFrank RuffLocal GovernmentLynwood LewisEmmett HangerPrivileges and ElectionsCreigh DeedsJill VogelRehabilitation and Social ServicesBarbara FavolaEmmett HangerRulesMamie LockeTommy NormentTransportationDave MarsdenStephen Newman
House of Delegates
Speaker: Todd Gilbert (R) House Majority Leader: Terry Kilgore (R) House Majority Caucus Chair: Kathy Byron (R) House Majority Whip: Jay Leftwich (R) House Minority Leader: vacant House Minority Caucus Chair: Charniele Herring House Minority Treasurer: Betsy Carr House Minority Whip: Alfonso Lopez House Minority Secretary: Marcus Simon House Minority Vice Chair for Operations: Jeion Ward House Minority Vice Chair for Outreach: vacant House Minority Sergeant at Arms: Elizabeth Guzman Clerk: G. Paul Nardo
References