Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 231: Autism Advisory Council; name change, membership, staffing, powers and duties.
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 231 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 8, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Autism Advisory Council; name change, membership, staffing, powers and duties. Primary sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (March 14, 2026): Failed to Pass from conference.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Autism Advisory Council; name change; membership; staffing; powers and duties. Provides for the Autism Advisory Council to be reconstituted as a permanent, independently staffed agency in the legislative branch of state government. Currently, the Autism Advisory Council is set to expire on July 1, 2027. The bill repeals the expiration date and renames the agency as the Autism Commission. The bill also modifies the membership of the Commission to more closely align with the membership makeup of other independently staffed legislative agencies and directs the Commission to appoint and employ an executive director and other staff to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Jane Cohen | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Adele McClure | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Failed to Pass from conference
- No further action taken
- Senate Conferees: Aird, Locke, McDougle
- Conferees appointed by Senate
- House Conferees: Cohen, Tran, McLaughlin
- Conferees appointed by House
- House acceded to request
- Senate requested conference committee
- Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 98-N 0-A)
- Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history