A House appropriations subcommittee tabled HB 287, a bill to allow citizens of federally recognized tribes enrolled as undergraduates to pay in‑state tuition; proponents called it restorative, analysts gave a range of fiscal estimates, and supporters urged the committee to weigh enrollment uncertainty.

Lawmakers advanced HB 140 to extend by two years the bipartisan commission that works with Virginia tribes to align state law with federal recognition. Testimony included tribal leaders and a UVA Law Clinic attorney; the bill was reported out by a unanimous 5–0 vote.

SB 456 would give in‑state tuition to members of federally recognized Virginia tribes — including out‑of‑state tribal members whose tribe has historical ties within Virginia boundaries — and was recommended for reporting after unanimous support and clarification that the bill applies only to tribes federally recognized and identified in Virginia law.

The subcommittee unanimously reported HB 134 to let federally recognized tribes hold and place property into conservation easements and to add cultural preservation as an express purpose; supporters said the change expands tribes’ stewardship tools while opponents were not present.

Senator Stewart’s SB 422 would allow federally recognized tribes to hold and enforce conservation easements, expanding the definition to include cultural aspects; the subcommittee voted 5–0 to report the bill to full committee after supportive testimony from conservation groups.