Lawmakers pass bill to add geology to procurement rules and update licensing for geologists

A bill from State Del. Bill Wiley, expanding the definition of professional services and revising licensure requirements for geologists, received final approval in both chambers, according to the Virginia State House.

The measure cleared both the House and Senate and was officially enrolled as of Feb. 25, 2026, having passed the House by a 95-3 margin and the Senate unanimously 38-0.

Filed as HB1289 on Jan. 14, 2026, for the 2026 regular session, the bill is summarized by the state legislature as: “Geologists; added to definition of ‘professional services,’ continuing education.”

The following summary is based on the bill text, and clarifies the legislation’s key points.

Specifically, the bill adds geology to Virginia’s public procurement law’s definition of professional services and changes licensing requirements for geologists. The Board for Geology may waive the exam requirement for applicants who have at least 12 years of qualifying geological experience or hold a current geology license from another U.S. state with similar standards. The legislation also directs the board to set continuing education standards of eight hours per year for renewal or reinstatement, including detailed criteria for courses, instructor standards, assessments, documentation, and credit calculation.

Within the House, 63 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted to approve the bill, with three Republicans voting against it.

All 20 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the Senate supported the bill.

Primary sponsors were Del. Bill Wiley (Republican-32nd District), Del. Shelly A. Simonds (Democrat-70th District), and Del. Amy J. Laufer (Democrat-55th District).

Wiley holds a BS from George Mason University, earned in 1993.

Wiley was elected to the Virginia State House in 2024 as a Republican representing the 32nd District, succeeding David Reid.

In Virginia, the bill drafting process starts with a proposal introduced in either the House of Delegates or the Senate, then assigned to committees for review and possible changes. After committee consideration, the bill moves to floor debate and voting. Bills approved in both chambers are sent to the governor, who can sign, veto, or let the bill become law without a signature. The General Assembly convenes annually for regular session on the second Monday of January. Lawmakers consider hundreds of bills, with only some enacted into law.

Details in this report are based on information from the Virginia State House. Source materials are available here.