HB1291 • 2026

Geologists; regulations, exemptions.

An Act to amend and reenact § 54.1-2208.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to professions and occupations; regulation of geologists; exemptions.

Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Wiley
Last action: 2026-04-06
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Exemptions for Federal Geologists

This act changes Virginia's law to exempt federal government employees and contractors from needing a professional geologist license while working on geological projects for the U.S. government.

What This Bill Does

Changes the existing law about who needs a professional geologist license in Virginia.
Adds an exemption for officers, employees, agents, or contractors of the United States when they practice geology solely as part of their work for the federal government.

Who It Names or Affects

Federal government workers and contractors who do geological work.
Professional geologists in Virginia.

Terms To Know

professional geologist: A person licensed to practice geology, which involves studying the Earth's physical structure and substances.
exemption: An exception or exclusion from a rule or requirement.

Limits and Unknowns

The act does not specify what happens if federal workers also do geological work for private companies.
It is unclear how this change will be enforced or monitored.

Bill History

2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 282 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 282 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0282)
2026-03-25 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
2026-03-25 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-16 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1291)
2026-03-14 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-14 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled
2026-03-14 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1291ER)
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-04 General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-10 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-10 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
2026-02-09 House
Read third time and passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)
2026-02-06 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-05 House
Read first time
2026-02-03 General Laws
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)
2026-01-29 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)
2026-01-28 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1291)
2026-01-26 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
2026-01-14 House
Presented and ordered printed 26101526D
2026-01-14 General Laws
Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Professions and occupations; regulation of geologists; exemptions.
Exempts the practice of geology by any officer, employee, agent, or contractor of the United States of America when practicing solely as such from the licensing requirements for professional geologists.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
54.1-2208.1
of the Code of Virginia, relating to professions and occupations; regulation of geologists; exemptions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
54.1-2208.1
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
54.1-2208.1
. Purpose; exemptions.
A. The licensing of professional geologists as set forth in this article shall serve any or all of the following purposes:
1. The maintenance of educational, experiential, and ethical standards in the practice of geology;
2. The maintenance of standards of objectivity, truthfulness, and reliability in the practice of geology;
3. The restriction of the professional geologist from association with any person engaging in illegal or dishonest activities in the practice of geology; and
4. The limitation of the practice of geology and any offer of the practice of geology to those persons licensed pursuant to this article.
B. This article shall not be construed to prevent or affect:
1. The practice of any profession or trade for which licensing, certification, or registration is required under any other Virginia law, including the practice of licensed professional engineers lawfully practicing engineering in its various specialized branches;
2. The work of any archeologist, chemist, geographer, or oceanographer who is in responsible charge of geological work or the drawing of geological conclusions and recommendations, provided such work does not include the design and execution of geological investigations;
3. The practice of geology by any person under the direct supervision and control of a professional geologist licensed pursuant to this article, provided such practice does not include being in responsible charge of final geological reports or decisions;
or
4. The practice of geology by any person certified as a professional geologist before July 1, 2025
; or
5. The practice of geology by any officer, employee, agent, or contractor of the United States of America when practicing solely as such
.