A bill recently introduced by State Del. Joshua E. Thomas establishes a commission tasked with researching and providing guidance on matters affecting boys and men in Virginia, according to the Virginia State House.
The measure, listed as HB1188 and filed on Jan. 14, 2026, during the legislature’s 2026 regular session, is formally titled: “Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission; established, report, sunset provision.”
Below is a summary, based on the official bill language, which includes explanatory details for clarity.
This legislation establishes the Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission within the legislative branch to assess and advise on issues such as education inequity, economic opportunity, gaps in health outcomes, family dynamics, and the effects of social media. The commission is composed of 26 members, including state lawmakers, designated authorities in fields like pediatrics, education, mental health, public safety, higher education, workforce instruction, and economic development, as well as nonvoting Cabinet-level representatives. The commission is authorized to conduct research and organize symposiums, required to deliver annual reports and an executive summary to the governor and General Assembly, and must provide a report with up to three recommendations due by Oct. 1, 2026. If enacted, the commission would operate effective immediately and be dissolved July 1, 2029.
The bill is cosponsored by Rep. Joshua E. Thomas (Democrat-21st District), Rep. Jason S. Ballard (Republican-42nd District), Rep. Michael B. Feggans (Democrat-97th District), along with three other lawmakers.
Thomas has put forward 12 additional measures since this session began.
He earned a BA from Vanderbilt University in 2010 and a JD from The College of William and Mary in 2018.
Thomas, a Democrat, was elected to the Virginia State House in 2024 to serve the 21st House district, succeeding former state representative Kelly Convirs-Fowler.
Virginia’s legislative process starts with a bill introduced in either legislative chamber. It is referred to committees for review or amendment; if approved, it proceeds to each chamber for debate and voting. Passage in both chambers sends the measure to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets every year for a regular session beginning the second Monday in January, and legislators each session introduce several hundred bills, with only some ultimately becoming law.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas, Jason S. Ballard, Michael B. Feggans, Michael J. Webert, Nicole Cole, and Jackie H. Glass | HB1188 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission; established, report, sunset provision. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas, Dan I. Helmer, David A. Reid, Elizabeth R. Guzman, John Chilton McAuliff, Atoosa R. Reaser, Betsy B. Carr, JJ Singh, Karen Keys-Gamarra, and Sam Rasoul | HB153 | 01/14/2026 | Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas, Dan I. Helmer, Marty Martinez, Atoosa R. Reaser, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Katrina Callsen, Laura Jane Cohen, and Michael B. Feggans | HB164 | 01/14/2026 | Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas, Adele Y. McClure, Atoosa R. Reaser, Dan I. Helmer, Irene Shin, JJ Singh, Kathy K.L. Tran, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Laura Jane Cohen, Marty Martinez, May Nivar, Michael B. Feggans, and Shelly A. Simonds | HB165 | 01/14/2026 | Contractors, Board for; examinations available in alternative languages. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB166 | 01/14/2026 | Noise ordinances; removes exemption for industrial property, civil penalties. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB196 | 01/14/2026 | Mixed-income housing; creating a two-year pilot program that provides loan origination, etc. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB197 | 01/14/2026 | Zoning appeals, board of; appellate jurisdiction upon appeal from the circuit court. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB198 | 01/14/2026 | Local government; review of decision by board of zoning appeals, procedures for filing petition. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas, Jeremy S. McPike, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Karen Keys-Gamarra, and Sam Rasoul | HB352 | 01/14/2026 | Local authority; authorized by ordinance to establish affordable housing performance grant programs. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB354 | 01/14/2026 | Online portal; Commissioner of Department of Veterans Services to develop and maintain. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB356 | 01/14/2026 | Local housing policy; expands the range of changes that are required. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Margaret A. Franklin, Adele Y. McClure, Alex Q. Askew, Alfonso H. Lopez, Amy J. Laufer, Atoosa R. Reaser, Betsy B. Carr, Bonita G. Anthony, Briana D. Sewell, C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr., Charlie Schmidt, Charniele L. Herring, Dan I. Helmer, Debra D. Gardner, Delores L. McQuinn, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Garrett McGuire, Gretchen M Bulova, Holly M. Seibold, Jackie H. Glass, Jeion A. Ward, Jessica L. Anderson, Joshua G. Cole, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Karen R. “Kacey” Carnegie, Karrie K. Delaney, Kathy K.L. Tran, Katrina Callsen, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Kimberly Pope Adams, Laura Jane Cohen, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Lily V. Franklin, Lindsey Dougherty, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Marcus B. Simon, Mark C. Downey, Michael B. Feggans, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nicole Cole, Paul E. Krizek, Phil M. Hernandez, Rae Cousins, Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr., Rodney T. Willett, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., Sam Rasoul, Shelly A. Simonds, Stacey Annie Carroll, Virgil Thornton, and Vivian E. Watts | HB1182 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs & devices, including over-the-counter. |
| 2026 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB1227 | 01/14/2026 | Private activity bonds; allocation of state ceiling. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB2657 | 01/15/2025 | Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas and Atoosa R. Reaser | HB2065 | 01/13/2025 | Fire Programs Fund; aid to localities, requirement for emergency incidents reporting. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas, Hyland F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr., and David A. Reid | HB2071 | 01/13/2025 | DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas, Shelly A. Simonds, Betsy B. Carr, Joshua G. Cole, and Vivian E. Watts | HB1601 | 01/08/2025 | Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas and Mike A. Cherry | HB1626 | 01/08/2025 | Public elementary & secondary school teachers; certain training activities, requirements, etc. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas and Will Davis | HB1627 | 01/08/2025 | Criminal history record information; dissemination of record information. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas and Jackie H. Glass | HB1629 | 01/08/2025 | Health care records; providers shall provide one free copy of records stored in EHR upon request. |
| 2025 | Joshua E. Thomas | HB1653 | 01/08/2025 | Real Estate Board; regulations related to fees charged to a licensee. |
Information for this report is taken from the Virginia State House. Source data is available here.
