HB 1299·VA·house
Rules of construction; use of "shall," effective clause, report.
Passed One ChamberFiled Jan 15, 2026
Sponsor: Delaney
Latest Action
Continued from last session
Jul 21, 2026
Summary
The bill states that the word “shall” in the Code of Virginia imposes a binding requirement, not just a guideline, unless a statute explicitly makes it non‑mandatory. It also orders the Virginia Code Commission to study the change and report its impact to the General Assembly by Dec. 1, 2026. The provisions only take effect if the measure is reenacted in the 2027 legislative session.
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