Virginia · Senate Bill 970 · 2025 Regular Session

Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties.

SB 970 Sponsored by Aaron R. Rouse Vetoed

  1. Introduced Jan 6, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 6, 2025
  3. Passed the Senate Jan 31, 2025
  4. Passed the House of Delegates Feb 12, 2025
  5. To the governor Mar 11, 2025
  6. Vetoed Mar 24, 2025

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

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 allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026.

Every action

37 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 29 earlier steps
  1. SenatePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102567D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services · Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services
  3. SenateImpact statement from VCSC (SB970)
  4. CommitteeReported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N) · Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services8–7 vote
  5. CommitteeRereferred to Finance and Appropriations · Senate Finance and Appropriations
  6. SenateCommittee substitute printed 25105279D-S1
  7. SenateImpact statement from VCSC (SB970)
  8. CommitteeReported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) · Senate Finance and Appropriations10–5 vote
  9. SenateRules suspended
  10. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N)38–0 vote
  11. SenatePassed by for the day
  12. SenateRead second time
  13. SenateReading of substitute waived
  14. SenateRehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to
  15. SenateEngrossed by Senate - committee substitute
  16. SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB970)
  17. SenateRead third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)21–19 vote
  18. CommitteePlaced on General Laws Agenda · House of Delegates General Laws
  19. House of DelegatesPlaced on Calendar
  20. House of DelegatesRead first time
  21. CommitteeReferred to Committee on General Laws · House of Delegates General Laws
  22. CommitteeReported from General Laws (13-Y 8-N) · House of Delegates General Laws13–8 vote
  23. House of DelegatesRead second time
  24. House of DelegatesPassed by for the day
  25. House of DelegatesRead third time
  26. House of DelegatesPassed House (53-Y 44-N)53–44 vote
  27. SenateEnrolled
  28. SenateBill text as passed Senate and House (SB970ER)
  29. House of DelegatesSigned by Speaker
  1. SenateSigned by President
  2. SenateEnrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
  3. GovernorGovernor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
  4. SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB970)
  5. SenateGovernor's Veto Received by Senate
  6. GovernorVetoed by Governor
  7. SenatePassed by for the day
  8. SenateSenate sustained Governor's veto

Roll calls

6 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 3 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

38–0
Jan 29, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 38 No 0 Not voting 2
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 17 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 38

Not voting · 2

Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) · Full Senate

Passed 21–19
Jan 31, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 21 No 19
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 19 no
How each member voted

Yes · 21

No · 19

Passed House (53-Y 44-N) · Full House of Delegates

Passed 53–44
Feb 12, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 53 No 44 Not voting 3
Party not listed: 7 yes, 15 no Democrats: 44 yes, 0 no Republicans: 2 yes, 29 no
How each member voted

Yes · 53

No · 44

Not voting · 3

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 17, 2025 Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
Members

Yes · 8

No · 7

 Passed 8–7
Jan 28, 2025 Senate Finance and Appropriations Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
Members

Yes · 10

No · 5

 Passed 10–5
Feb 6, 2025 House of Delegates General Laws Reported from General Laws (13-Y 8-N)
Members

Yes · 13

No · 8

Not voting · 1

 Passed 13–8

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 1 cosponsor: 1 Democrat.

All 1 cosponsor

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.