DGS; work group to provide recommendations relating to transitioning to an independent agency.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify what happens if the report is not completed by October 15, 2026.

Department of General Services Transition Plan

This bill directs Virginia’s Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and House Appropriations Committee to form a work group that will assess the transition of the Department of General Services into an independent agency.

What This Bill Does

• Directs the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee to convene a work group to evaluate the process for transitioning the Department of General Services from an executive branch agency to an independent agency.
• The work group must recommend statutory changes necessary to establish the Department as an independent agency, appropriate governance and organizational structure, budgetary and fiscal implications, responsibilities that need to be transferred to the Governor, and any other relevant considerations.
• 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 by October 15, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
• The House Appropriations Committee
• Department of General Services staff and leadership

Terms To Know

Independent agency

An organization that operates separately from other government departments, usually with its own budget and rules.

General Assembly

The state legislature of Virginia, made up of the Senate and House of Delegates.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how much money will be needed for this transition.
• It does not say what happens if the work group cannot finish their report by October 15, 2026.
• The bill does not explain who will make final decisions about the changes.

Official Summary Text

Department of General Services; independent agency; evaluation.
Directs 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 the transition of the Department of General Services 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 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 by October 15, 2026.

Current Bill Text

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
s
erve 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 Appropria
tions Committee
, or their designee
s
;
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
d
epartment
;
(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 transitio
n
.
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
.