State Del. Bill Wiley has put forward legislation aimed at revising and clarifying the definitions for commercial motor vehicles to better match federal safety guidelines, according to the Virginia State House.
The measure, filed as HB1290 on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, is officially described as: “Commercial motor vehicle; expands definition.”
The following summary reflects our analysis of the bill’s text and is intended to clarify its details.
This legislation updates the legal definition of “commercial motor vehicle” by specifying procedures for determining gross vehicle weight and gross combination weight, requiring use of the higher number between actual weight and the manufacturer’s rating. It amends references involving towed vehicles, synchronizes Virginia law with federal safety norms, and keeps exclusions for personal, farm, military and emergency vehicles. The bill introduces the term “full air brake” and makes minor updates and cross-references to related commercial driver licensing language.
Rep. Bill Wiley (Republican-32nd District) is the sole sponsor of the bill.
Wiley has submitted three other legislative measures since the session began.
He earned his BS degree from George Mason University in 1993.
Wiley, a Republican, was elected in 2024 to represent Virginia’s 32nd House district, succeeding previous State Rep. David Reid.
In Virginia’s legislative process, either the House of Delegates or the Senate may receive new bills. These are reviewed by assigned committee(s) for debate and possible amendments. If committee approval is granted, the bill advances to a vote in each chamber. Once approved by both chambers, it heads to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow it to become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly holds its regular session every year starting the second Monday in January. Legislators consider hundreds of proposals, though a fraction are ultimately enacted.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bill Wiley | HB1290 | 01/14/2026 | Commercial motor vehicle; expands definition. |
| 2026 | Bill Wiley | HB1288 | 01/14/2026 | Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value. |
| 2026 | Bill Wiley, Shelly A. Simonds, and Amy J. Laufer | HB1289 | 01/14/2026 | Geologists; added to definition of “professional services,” continuing education. |
| 2026 | Bill Wiley | HB1291 | 01/14/2026 | Geologists; regulations, exemptions. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley, Delores Oates, Ian T. Lovejoy, and Wren M. Williams | HB1552 | 01/08/2025 | Critical access hospitals; swing beds. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley, David Owen, and Ian T. Lovejoy | HB1567 | 01/08/2025 | Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; operational plan submission. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB1568 | 01/08/2025 | Law-enforcement jurisdiction; Frederick County Sheriff’s Dept. jurisdiction in/upon certain bldgs. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB1835 | 01/08/2025 | Geologists; regulation, licensure, penalty. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB1836 | 01/08/2025 | Driver training schools; definitions, operation and licensure. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB2502 | 01/08/2025 | FOIA; exclusion of certain information held by Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley, Bill Wiley, Ian T. Lovejoy, Ian T. Lovejoy, W. Chad Green, and W. Chad Green | HB2503 | 01/08/2025 | Virginia coordinate systems; updates several references in Code. |
