2026 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

26106959D

SENATE BILL NO. 484

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations

on February 4, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Deeds)

A BILL to direct the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee to convene a work group to assess the process and provide recommendations related to transitioning the Department of General Services into an independent agency of the Commonwealth pursuant to General Assembly intent.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee shall convene a work group to assess the process and provide recommendations related to the transition of the Department of General Services (the Department) from an executive branch agency to an independent agency of the Commonwealth pursuant to the intent of the General Assembly that (i) the Department transition to better serve the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as independent agencies of the Commonwealth, and political subdivisions thereof, equally and (ii) such transition be finalized in the 2027 Regular Session. The work group shall include the Staff Directors of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee, or their designees; the Director of the Department; the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, or his designee; and the Director of the Division of Legislative Services, or his designee. In conducting its assessment, the work group shall evaluate and make recommendations regarding (a) statutory changes necessary to establish the Department as an independent agency of the Commonwealth; (b) appropriate governance and organizational structure of an independent department; (c) budgetary and fiscal implications, including any necessary appropriations or transfers of funds and positions necessary to effectuate such transition; (d) the existing responsibilities of the Department that need to be transferred to the Governor to oversee procurement and capital outlay of executive agencies; and (e) any other considerations relevant to the transition. The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee shall submit a joint report of the work group's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than October 15, 2026.