Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Virginia
Republican
· Senator
David Suetterlein
Represents District 4 in the State Senate.
Votes with Republicans
83%
on 891 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 93%
Cast a vote
98%
Yea or Nay on 4,152 of 4,248 roll calls · Senate median 98%
Their bills that became law
22 of 35
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 16
Roll calls on record
4,248
2026 Regular Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 12, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 2026 Regular Regular Session.
How David Suetterlein votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where David Suetterlein sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. David Suetterlein is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
151 of 891 party-line votes, most recent 10 shown.
SB126 · Primary election; when filings to be made, extension for incumbents failure to file.
In plain English Extends the primary election filing deadline by five days for non-incumbents if an incumbent fails to file by the original deadline.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 23–16 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB361 · Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs & devices, including over-the-counter.
In plain English Requires health insurance carriers to cover FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices, including over-the-counter options, without copayments or coinsurance.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (24-Y 15-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 24–15 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB361 · Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs & devices, including over-the-counter.
In plain English Requires health insurance carriers to cover FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices, including over-the-counter options, without copayments or coinsurance.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 23–16 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB328 · Health insurance; essential health benefits benchmark plan selection.
In plain English Requires the state insurance bureau to select a new health insurance benchmark plan for 2028 that adds coverage for doula care, fertility treatment, hearing aids, breast milk, certain pediatric conditions, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 22–17 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB678 · Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; terms and conditions of rental agreement.
In plain English Requires landlords with more than four rental units to give tenants 90 days' written notice of rent increases and a 30-day deadline to decide on renewal.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 22–17 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB395 · Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.
In plain English Prevents localities from banning small portable solar devices on homes and allows tenants to install them, while prohibiting utilities from charging fees or requiring approval.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (28-Y 11-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 28–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB329 · Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant/Manufactured Home Lot Rental Acts; retaliatory conduct prohibited.
In plain English Prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants for certain actions and allows tenants to recover damages or use retaliation as a defense in eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation nos 1 – 3 (25-Y 14-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 25–14 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB344 · Mammalian wildlife; separation and hybridization prohibited, exceptions.
In plain English Prohibits separating captive-born mammalian wildlife from mothers before four months of age and bans commercial hybridization of different mammal species, with specified exceptions.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (24-Y 15-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 24–15 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB553 · Corrections, Department of; language services for offenders.
In plain English Requires the Department of Corrections to take reasonable steps to provide offenders with limited English proficiency meaningful access to facilities, services, programs, and activities.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 22–17 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB891 · Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities, etc.
In plain English Allows battery energy storage projects as permitted uses on solar farm parcels without requiring additional local land use approvals.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 11-N 1-A) · 2026-04-22 · Passed 27–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB347 · Solar facilities; local regulation, permits, special exceptions.
In plain English Requires localities to set standards for ground-mounted solar facilities of one megawatt or more and report decisions to the state starting July 1, 2026.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (18-Y 18-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Failed 18–18
HB505 · Counties, cities, & towns; members of governing body, continuing personal interest in transactions.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (19-Y 19-N 0-A) · 2026-04-22 · Failed 19–19
HB1093 · Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, attorney fees capped.
Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 20-N 0-A) · 2026-03-10 · Failed 20–20
HB86 · Mattress Stewardship Program; established, definitions, report.
Passed Senate (20-Y 20-N 0-A) · 2026-03-10 · Failed 20–20
SB109 · School boards; safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the household.
House substitute agreed to by Senate (20-Y 20-N 0-A) · 2026-03-04 · Failed 20–20
Democrats they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Elizabeth Bennett-ParkerDemocrat · District 39 · 245 shared contested votes
25%
Stella PekarskyDemocrat · District 36 · 985 shared contested votes
24%
Schuyler VanValkenburgDemocrat · District 16 · 921 shared contested votes
23%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (96 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Virginia Delegation
YeaNayNayNayYeaNayNayYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaNayNayYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayNayNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaNayNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaNayNayNayNayNayNayNayNayNayNayNay
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills David Suetterlein was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced35
Out of committee27
Passed one chamber25
Passed both chambers23
Became law22
Never left committee8
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 16 bills that became law this session.
Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value.
In plain English Increases the maximum property value that can be sold at public auction to satisfy a vehicle lien from $12,500 to $17,000 without a court order.
Official synopsis: Enforcement of vehicle liens; property value. Increases from $12,500 to $17,000 the maximum value of property that may be sold at public auction to satisfy a lien on a motor vehicle without petitioning for a court order for the sale of such property. This bill…
VetoedPassed by for the day (Voice Vote) · 2026-04-22
Electric utilities; licensed retail suppliers, renewable portfolio standard requirements.
In plain English Allows large industrial customers of Appalachian Power or Dominion Energy Virginia to buy electricity from licensed suppliers if their peak demand exceeded five megawatts in 2024 or later.
Official synopsis: Electric utilities; licensed retail suppliers; renewable portfolio standard requirements. Permits an individual retail customer of electric energy from Appalachian Power or Dominion Energy Virginia whose noncoincident peak demand exceeded five megawatts during 2024 or any year thereafter to purchase electric energy from a licensed supplier…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0708) · 2026-04-13
Teacher licensure; career and technical education or dual enrollment, three-year licenses.
In plain English Allows college instructors teaching career and technical or dual enrollment courses to obtain three-year renewable licenses to teach those subjects at public high schools.
Official synopsis: Teacher licensure; three-year renewable license to teach career and technical education or dual enrollment courses at public high schools. Requires the Board of Education to provide for the issuance of a three-year renewable license to teach solely career and technical education courses or dual enrollment…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0817) · 2026-04-13
School bds.; parental notification of course registration deadlines and processes required, policies.
In plain English Requires school boards to implement policies by 2026-2027 that notify parents by email or text at least 30 days before course registration deadlines.
Official synopsis: School boards; public middle and high schools; parental notification of course registration deadlines and processes required. Requires each school board to develop and implement, by the start of the 2026-2027 school year, policies requiring each public middle and high school in the school division to provide,…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0523) · 2026-04-08
School bds.; opening of school year, certain alternative schedules & schedule flexibility permitted.
School boards; opening of the school year; certain alternative schedules and schedule flexibility permitted. Extends from no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day to no earlier than 14 days before September 1 of each year the requirement relating to the earliest date that each…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0522) · 2026-04-08
Western Virginia Public Education Consortium; governance, funding, duties, report.
In plain English Requires the Western Virginia Public Education Consortium chair to submit annual summaries only in years it receives state funding, adjusts board membership, and removes technology linkage requirements.
Official synopsis: Western Virginia Public Education Consortium; governance; funding; duties. Makes several changes relating to the Western Virginia Public Education Consortium (the Consortium), including (i) requiring the chair of the board of the Consortium to submit an annual executive summary only in each biennium in which the…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0405) · 2026-04-08
Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic.
In plain English Allows courts to order completion of a driver improvement clinic instead of a conviction for a first texting-while-driving violation.
Official synopsis: Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic. Clarifies that a court may order, for a first violation of texting and driving, the satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a conviction.
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0518) · 2026-04-08
Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody.
Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody; custodians. Allows the custodian of a child to file a petition for relief of the care and custody of such child in a juvenile and domestic relations district court. Current law only…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0059) · 2026-04-06
License plates, special; issuance for members of Virginia REALTORS.
Special license plates; Virginia REALTORS. Converts the existing non-revenue sharing special license plate for members of the Virginia Realtors to a revenue sharing special license plate with the revenue benefiting the Virginia REALTORS Disaster Relief Fund. The bill provides that such existing plates will remain…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0301) · 2026-04-06
Employment prohibition exceptions; apprenticeship program for children 16 years of age or older.
In plain English Allows 16-year-olds enrolled in school to work in apprenticeships for culinary arts or information technology if registered and meeting federal and state labor laws.
Official synopsis: Employment prohibition exceptions; apprenticeships; children 16 years of age or older. Permits a child 16 years of age or older to serve in an apprenticeship program or other work-based learning experience related to culinary arts or information technology, provided that (i) the child is continuously…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0099) · 2026-04-06
Community Builders Pilot Program; name change, statewide demonstration model site, repeals sunset.
Community Builders Pilot Program; name change; sunset repeal; statewide demonstration model site. Makes permanent and renames the Community Builders Pilot Program established within Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools as the Community Builders Program (the Program). The Community Builders Pilot Program is…
Became lawActs of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0052) · 2026-04-02
Commending Matt Neale, J.D., 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year.
Became lawBill text as passed Senate and House (SJ295ER) · 2026-03-25
Celebrating the life of Donald Wise Huffman.
Became lawBill text as passed Senate and House (SJ271ER) · 2026-03-25
Commending Brody Dawyot.
Became lawBill text as passed Senate and House (SJ274ER) · 2026-03-25
Commending Colonel Donald Caldwell, USAR.
Became lawBill text as passed Senate and House (SJ273ER) · 2026-03-25
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
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HB484 · 2026-04-22
Health insurance; ethics and fairness in carrier business practices, downcoded claims. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
HB1393 · 2026-04-22
Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (34-Y 5-N 0-A))
HB1525 · 2026-04-22
Firearms, certain; definitions, possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB630 · 2026-04-22
Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB320 · 2026-04-22
Live streaming while driving; prohibited, penalty. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (25-Y 14-N 0-A))
SB352 · 2026-04-22
Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty. (Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB640 · 2026-04-22
Elections; challenges to a voter or voter's registration, filing of petition, notice of appeal. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB225 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank; created, report, membership. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
HB892 · 2026-04-22
Electric utilities; integrated resource plans; SCC to investigate electric load forecasts. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB773 · 2026-04-22
Elections; absentee voting, cure process, delayed effective date. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB125 · 2026-04-22
Children's Ombudsman, Office of the; powers and duties, report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB749 · 2026-04-22
Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties. (Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB803 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Fair Housing Law; regulations defining terms related to unlawful conduct. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A))
HB1377 · 2026-04-22
VMI; Bd. of Visitors to examine higher education at the Institute. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB783 · 2026-04-22
Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB620 · 2026-04-22
Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (37-Y 2-N 0-A))
HB238 · 2026-04-22
Minimum wage and overtime wages; payment, of wages, misclassification of workers, civil actions. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB711 · 2026-04-22
Solar facilities; local regulation, permits, special exceptions. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (20-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB1457 · 2026-04-22
Vehicle weight limits; violations, owner or lessee of commercial motor vehicle hauling coal. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
HB308 · 2026-04-22
Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (37-Y 2-N 0-A))
HB2 · 2026-04-22
Electric utilities; energy efficiency upgrades, report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 17-N 0-A))
SB543 · 2026-04-22
Marijuana and hemp products; enforcement. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB455 · 2026-04-22
Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB230 · 2026-04-22
Police and court records; expungement of records, delayed effective date. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Nos. 1 and 3 (24-Y 15-N 0-A))
HB101 · 2026-04-22
Concealed handguns; alternate methods of submission of applications for permits. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB324 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB614 · 2026-04-22
History/soc.science SOL & Curriculum Framework; review of instruction on roles of all peoples. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB820 · 2026-04-22
Mixed-income housing; creating a two-year pilot program that provides loan origination, etc. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
HB857 · 2026-04-22
Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (38-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB107 · 2026-04-22
Jury service; exemptions upon request, certain caretakers of persons with serious health conditions. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (35-Y 4-N 0-A))
SB62 · 2026-04-22
Marijuana-related offenses; modification of sentence, sunset. (Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB256 · 2026-04-22
Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB1011 · 2026-04-22
Compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal infrastructure, etc. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB197 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund; loan and grant program, deferment of interest accrual. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB285 · 2026-04-22
Urban Public-Private Partnership Redevelopment grant program; Board of HCD to review, etc. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB337 · 2026-04-22
Virginia National Guard; reports to General Assembly, state militias, etc. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB223 · 2026-04-22
Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A))
HB41 · 2026-04-22
Elections; procedures for removal of electoral board members and general registrars. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB364 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center; work group to develop policy, etc., to establish. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB796 · 2026-04-22
Regulatory boards; adjustment of fees, recovery of disciplinary and monitoring costs, report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB518 · 2026-04-22
Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB536 · 2026-04-22
Medical malpractice information disclosures; report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (37-Y 2-N 0-A))
SB173 · 2026-04-22
Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services. (Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB318 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB342 · 2026-04-22
Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation. (Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (10-Y 29-N 0-A))
SB342 · 2026-04-22
Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation. (Passed in enrolled form (32-Y 7-N 0-A))
SB706 · 2026-04-22
Opioid antagonist; distribution program, reports. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB347 · 2026-04-22
Solar facilities; local regulation, permits, special exceptions. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (18-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB767 · 2026-04-22
Motor vehicles; glass repair and replacement, emissions inspections, penalties, repeals. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (38-Y 0-N 0-A))
SB72 · 2026-04-22
Electric utilities; energy efficiency upgrades, report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB379 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; application, notice, deposit, fee. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A))
HB286 · 2026-04-22
Virginia National Guard; orders transmitted to and through Governor, annual reports. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB388 · 2026-04-22
Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB1046 · 2026-04-22
Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
SB176 · 2026-04-22
Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB909 · 2026-04-22
Elections; certain conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB505 · 2026-04-22
Counties, cities, & towns; members of governing body, continuing personal interest in transactions. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (19-Y 19-N 0-A))
HB234 · 2026-04-22
Elections; general provisions, electoral board members to wear identification, civil penalty. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB281 · 2026-04-22
Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
HB1524 · 2026-04-22
Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty. (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A))
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 4248 total roll-call votes this session).
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