Alex Askew House Bill 401 Modernizes Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Board

Sep 10, 2026, 10:30 AM ET

Robotic arm with a marble statue in an art gallery

RICHMOND — The Virginia Senate delivered unanimous approval to House Bill 401 on March 2, 2026, passing the measure in a block vote of 40 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. The bill, now engrossed by the Senate as amended, heads back to the House of Delegates for concurrence on the Senate’s amendment.

Sponsored by Delegate Alex Askew representing the 95th District, HB 401 amends Section 23.1-3218 of the Code of Virginia. The legislation updates the enumerated powers of the board of trustees of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It replaces the board’s prior authority to adopt regulations establishing classes of membership in the museum with expanded authority to adopt regulations and set fees relating to the use and visitation of properties under the board’s control.

This adjustment equips the board with practical tools to manage museum properties more effectively, enabling fee structures that support operational needs while maintaining public access to Virginia’s cultural treasures. Such provisions allow for targeted revenue from usage, fostering greater self-sufficiency for the institution amid fiscal responsibilities.

The bill’s legislative path demonstrates broad consensus. Prefiled on January 12, 2026, and ordered printed for offering on January 14, it was immediately referred to the House Committee on Education. A fiscal impact statement from the Department of Planning and Budget was issued on January 20. Assigned to the Higher Education subcommittee on January 23, the subcommittee recommended reporting the bill on January 27 with a unanimous 10-0 vote.

The full House Education Committee reported the bill favorably on January 28 by a 21-0 margin. It received first reading on January 30, second reading and engrossment on February 2, and third reading passage on February 3 via block vote of 98-0.

Upon arrival in the Senate on February 4, constitutional reading was dispensed, and it was referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Assigned to the Higher Education subcommittee on February 23, the committee reported it with amendment on February 26 by 15-0. The Senate Education and Health amendment, designated HB401ASC1, was offered that day.

On February 27, rules were suspended, and constitutional reading on the second reading was dispensed by block vote of 37-0. Passed by for the day on voice vote, it advanced to third reading on March 2. The Senate agreed to the committee amendment by voice vote, engrossed the bill as amended, and passed it unanimously.

Multiple fiscal impact statements underscore the thorough review process, ensuring any budgetary effects on state resources were evaluated. The Department of Planning and Budget provided statements dated January 20, January 27, February 2, and February 3.

Unanimous passage in both chambers highlights effective governance, streamlining outdated statutory language to better suit contemporary management of public cultural properties. Empowering the board to set visitation and use fees promotes accountability and market-oriented approaches to resource allocation, aligning with principles of fiscal prudence and efficient public administration.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, as a key state-supported cultural institution, benefits from these clarifications, ensuring its board can adapt regulations to real-world demands. This measure supports the preservation and accessibility of fine arts collections without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

As the session progresses, the House will consider the Senate amendment, potentially finalizing this housekeeping bill that received overwhelming support across the aisle. With no recorded opposition and consistent fiscal oversight, HB 401 exemplifies streamlined legislation advancing institutional flexibility.

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Richmond Richmond City Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Aaron Rouse Abigail Spanberger Adam Ebbin Adele McClure Alex Askew Alfonso Lopez Ali Faruk Amendment Amy Laufer Andrew Breton Angelia Williams Graves Anne Holton Anne Tata Arts Atoosa Reaser Barbara Favola Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill DeSteph Bill Wiley Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Bryce Reeves Buddy Fowler Budget Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Cheryl Burke Chris Runion Christie Craig Christopher Head Cia Price Cliff Hayes Creigh Deeds Cynthia Newbille Dan Helmer Danica Roem Danny Diggs David Marsden David Reid David Suetterlein Debra Gardner Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Don Scott Education Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Ellen Robertson Emily Jordan Emmett Jafari Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Garrett McGuire Glen Sturtevant Gretchen Bulova Health Hillary Kent Holly Seibold House of Delegates Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jackie Glass Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeion Ward Jennifer Boysko Jennifer Carroll Foy Jeremy McPike Jessica Anderson John McAuliff Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Kannan Srinivasan Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karrie Delaney Katherine Jordan Kathryn Ricard Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenya Gibson Kimberly Pope Adams Lamont Bagby Lashrecse Aird Laura Cohen Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Louise Lucas Luke Torian Luther Cifers Madison Whittle Mamie Locke Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Mark Downey Mark Obenshain Mark Peake Marty Martinez Matthew Percival May Nivar Michael Feggans Michael Jones Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Nicole Cole Nicole Jones Otto Wachsmann Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Scott Rae Cousins Reva Trammell Richard Stuart Richmond Richmond City Council Richmond School Board Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Russet Perry Ryan McDougle Saddam Salim Sam Rasoul Sarah Abubaker Schuyler VanValkenburg Scott Surovell Scott Wyatt Senate Shavonda Fernandez Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stella Pekarsky Stephanie Lynch Stephanie Rizzi Tammy Mulchi Tara Durant Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Tim Griffin Timmy French Todd Pillion Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Travis Hackworth Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Vivian Watts Wendell Walker Wesley Hedgepeth Will Davis Will Morefield William Stanley Wren Williams