House and Senate unanimously pass Wiley’s bill updating commercial vehicle definition

A new measure from State Del. Bill Wiley revises how commercial motor vehicles are defined and measured, bringing state law into alignment with federal safety regulations, as noted by the Virginia State House.

The bill received unanimous approval in both chambers and was officially enrolled as of March 10, 2026, passing the House by a 98-0 vote and the Senate 40-0.

Filed as HB1290 on Jan. 14, 2026, for the 2026 regular session, the legislation is summarized by state lawmakers as: “Commercial motor vehicle; expands definition.”

Below is our analysis, informed by the actual bill text and intended to provide clarity.

Essentially, the bill updates the statutory definition of “commercial motor vehicle,” clarifying measurement and comparison of gross vehicle weight and gross combination weight. It states that the greater of the actual weight or the manufacturer’s rating is the determining factor. The bill also amends references involving towed vehicles, ensures terminology matches federal safety requirements, maintains current exemptions for personal, farm, military, and emergency vehicles, adds a definition for “full air brake,” and revises certain wording and cross-references relating to licensing.

In the House, 63 Democrats and 35 Republicans cast votes in favor of the measure.

In the Senate, the vote saw 21 Democrats and 19 Republicans in support.

The legislation was offered solely by Republican Del. Bill Wiley from the 32nd District.

Wiley earned a bachelor’s degree in 1993 from George Mason University.

Wiley, representing the GOP, joined the Virginia State House in 2024 as the 32nd District delegate, succeeding David Reid.

In Virginia, the legislative process starts when a bill is introduced in either chamber, then referred to committees for review and possible revision. Approved bills advance for floor debate and a vote in both chambers. Bills passed by both the House and Senate move to the governor, who may sign, veto, or let a bill become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets each year starting the second Monday in January, considering hundreds of bills, though only some become law.

Information in this article was sourced from the Virginia State House. For additional source material, visit here.