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SB542Introduced in the Senate

Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report.

Vetoed

Introduced by Lashrecse Aird, District 13

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

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.

Where it stands

Vetoed by Governor

May 19, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

11 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104073D

  2. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

  3. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 1:49 pm)

  4. Incorporates SB671 (Rouse)

  5. Senate committee offered

  6. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Courts of Justice (8-Y 7-N)

  7. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 4:45 pm)

  8. Senate committee offered

  9. Senate committee amendments offered

  10. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

  11. Senate committee offered

  12. Committee substitute printed 26107341D-S2

  13. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 2:10 pm)

  14. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (7-Y 5-N 3-A)

  15. Incorporates SB826 (Lucas)

  16. Rules suspended

  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)

  18. Committee substitute printed 26107979D-S3

  19. Passed by for the day

  20. Substitute bill reprinted 26107979D

  21. Read second time

  22. Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

  23. Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

  24. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  25. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  26. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 8:52 am)

  27. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542)

  28. Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 1-A)

  29. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  30. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  31. Placed on Calendar

  32. Read first time

  33. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  34. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542)

  35. House committee offered

  36. Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 4-N)

  37. Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety

  38. Committee substitute printed 26108519D-H1

  39. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 1:08 pm)

  40. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (16-Y 6-N)

  41. Committee substitute printed 26108819D-H2

  42. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:37 pm)

  43. Read second time

  44. Read third time

  45. committee substitute rejected

  46. committee substitute agreed to

  47. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  48. Passed House with substitute (66-Y 33-N 0-A)

  49. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  50. House insisted on substitute

  51. House requested conference committee

  52. Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  53. Conferees appointed by Senate

  54. Senate Conferees: Aird, VanValkenburg, Rouse, Head, Lucas

  55. Conferees appointed by House

  56. House Conferees: Krizek, Herring, Morefield

  57. Conference Report released

  58. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 7:32 pm)

  59. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  60. Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 32-N 0-A)

  61. Enrolled

  62. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB542ER)

  63. Signed by President

  64. Signed by Speaker

  65. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  66. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  67. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542)

  68. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  69. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 4:24 pm)

  70. Substitute bill reprinted 26110453D

  71. Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  72. Communicated to Governor

  73. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  74. Governor's Veto Received by Senate

  75. Vetoed by Governor

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