SJ111 • 2026

Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission; reconstituted as a joint commission.

Reconstituting the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission as a joint commemorative commission.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Locke
Last action: 2026-03-12
Official status: Passed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the operational procedures of the commission beyond its composition and reporting requirements.

Reconstituting the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission

This law changes the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission from a Senate-only group to include members from both the Senate and House of Delegates, expanding its purpose to study and recommend an appropriate statue location on Capitol Square.

What This Bill Does

Changes the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission to be made up of members from both the Senate and House of Delegates.
Expands the commission's job to include studying and recommending a suitable statue location on Capitol Square, not just in the Old Senate Chamber.
Requires the commission to report yearly to the General Assembly about its progress until the work is done or the statue is put up.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission
The Senate and House of Delegates members involved in the commission
State agencies that must assist the commission

Terms To Know

General Assembly: The state legislature made up of the Senate and House of Delegates.
Capitol Square: A public area in Richmond, Virginia, where government buildings are located.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify when the statue must be completed.
The exact details of how the commission will operate are not fully explained in this summary.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SJ111AH1

2026-03-06 • Committee

Rules Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of members on a certain committee from four to six.

Changes the membership of the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission from four members to six members.

SJ111EDOC

2026-03-11 • House

House Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of members on a certain committee from four to six.

Changes the membership of a specific committee from four people to six people.

The exact nature and roles of these additional two members are not specified in the provided text.

Bill History

2026-03-12 Senate
Agreed to by Senate by voice vote
2026-03-12 Senate
House amendment agreed to by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-03-12 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ111ER)
2026-03-11 House
VOTE: Agreed to by House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-11 House
Taken up
2026-03-11 House
committee amendment agreed to
2026-03-11 House
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-03-11 House
Agreed to by House with amendment
2026-03-06 Rules
Referred to Committee on Rules
2026-03-06 Rules
Reported from Rules with amendment(s) (18-Y 0-N)
2026-03-04 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-04 Senate
Agreed to by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03 Senate
Read second time
2026-03-03 Senate
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-03-02 Senate
Read first time
2026-02-27 Rules
Reported from Rules (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16 Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26108034D
2026-02-16 Rules
Referred to Committee on Rules
2026-02-16 Senate
Unanimous consent to introduce

Official Summary Text

Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission; reconstituted as a joint commission.
Provides for the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission, established originally as a Senate commission for the purpose of honoring Booker T. Washington with a statue in the Old Senate Chamber, to be reconstituted as a joint commission consisting of members of both the Senate and the House of Delegates. The commission's purpose is also expanded to study and recommend an appropriate statue to be located on Capitol Square.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Reconstituting the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission as a joint commemorative commission.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 11, 2026
WHEREAS, Senate Resolution No. 95 (2021) called for the establishment of a commemorative commission to recognize the legacy and contributions to the Commonwealth of Booker T. Washington with a statue in the Old Senate Chamber; and
WHEREAS, Senate Resolution No. 95 (2021) requested that the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules establish and chair such a commission consisting of the Clerk of the Senate of Virginia and four additional members of the Senate Committee on Rules, appointed by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules; and
WHEREAS, in closing his autobiography,
Up from Slavery
, Booker T. Washington described his return to Virginia at the invitation of African American citizens of Richmond to speak to an integrated audience that included the members of the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates; and
WHEREAS, the membership of the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates voted to attend as a body, a testament to his life's work toward racial reconciliation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission, originally established as a Senate commission, be reconstituted as a joint commemorative commission consisting of members of both the Senate and the House of Delegates, and its purpose be expanded to study and recommend an appropriate statue to be located on Capitol Square. The commemorative commission shall consist of four members of the Senate Committee on Rules appointed by the Chair of such committee, six members of the House Committee on Rules appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Clerks of the Senate and the House of Delegates.
The Commission shall study and recommend to the General Assembly an appropriate statue and location on Capitol Square to commemorate the life, achievements, and legacy of Booker T. Washington. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission upon request.
Until completion of the Commission's work or the erection of the statue, whichever occurs later, the Commission shall report each year to the General Assembly on the status of its work, including any findings and recommendations. The first of such reports shall be due no later December 1, 2026, and every year thereafter.