Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 542
Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Lashrecse D. Aird (Democratic)
Cosponsors (2)
- Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic)
- L. Louise Lucas (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill provides that no retail sales may occur prior to January 1, 2027. Effective January 1, 2027, the bill also moves oversight of the retail sale of certain regulated hemp products from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. This bill incorporates SB 671 and SB 826 and is identical to HB 642.
Text versions
- Introduced
- Courts of Justice Amendment
- Courts of Justice Substitute
- Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute
- Finance and Appropriations Substitute
- General Laws Substitute
- Appropriations Substitute
- Conference Report Substitute
- Conference Report
- Enrolled
- Governor's Recommendation
- Governor Substitute
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 13, 2026 Senate | Adopt Conference Committee Report R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 Senate | Accede Conference Committee R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 Senate | Concur House Substitute R | fail | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 27, 2026 House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 24, 2026 House | Reported from General Laws with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Reconsider R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 12, 2026 Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 23, 2026 Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 14, 2026 · Senate
Substitute bill reprinted 26110453D - Apr 14, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 4:24 pm) - Apr 13, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by Senate - Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542) - Mar 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 31, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 - Mar 31, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 30, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 30, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB542ER) - Mar 30, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 32-N 0-A) - Mar 13, 2026 · Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) - Mar 13, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 7:32 pm) - Mar 13, 2026 · Legislature
Conference Report released - Mar 4, 2026 · House
House Conferees: Krizek, Herring, Morefield - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Conferees appointed by House - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Senate Conferees: Aird, VanValkenburg, Rouse, Head, Lucas - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
House requested conference committee - Mar 4, 2026 · House
House insisted on substitute - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Passed House with substitute (66-Y 33-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute - Mar 4, 2026 · House
committee substitute agreed to - Mar 4, 2026 · House
committee substitute rejected - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Read third time - Mar 3, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:37 pm) - Feb 27, 2026 · House
Committee substitute printed 26108819D-H2 - Feb 27, 2026 · House
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (16-Y 6-N) - Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 1:08 pm) - Feb 25, 2026 · House
Committee substitute printed 26108519D-H1 - Feb 25, 2026 · House
Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 4-N) - Feb 24, 2026 · House
House committee offered - Feb 24, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542) - Feb 23, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on General Laws - Feb 23, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 23, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 1-A) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 8:52 am) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Substitute bill reprinted 26107979D - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26107979D-S3 - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Incorporates SB826 (Lucas) - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (7-Y 5-N 3-A) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 2:10 pm) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26107341D-S2 - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee amendments offered - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 4:45 pm) - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Courts of Justice (8-Y 7-N) - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Incorporates SB671 (Rouse) - Jan 20, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 1:49 pm) - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104073D