Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HJR306: Celebrating the life of Thomas Vincent Van Auken, Jr.
Status: Passed both chambers, April 13, 2026
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, April 13, 2026:
2026 SESSION HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 306 Celebrating the life of Thomas Vincent Van Auken, Jr. Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2026 Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2026 WHEREAS, Thomas Vincent Van Auken, Jr., a distinguished scientist, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, and cherished member of the Richmond community, died on June 30, 2025; and WHEREAS, Thomas "Tom" Vincent Van Auken, Jr., earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before conducting postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and WHEREAS, after teaching briefly at the University of Texas at Austin, Tom Van Auken worked as a research scientist, first at Union Carbide Corporation in Charleston, West Virginia, and later at Philip Morris in Richmond, where his efforts would lead to nine patents; and WHEREAS, in his retirement, Tom Van Auken shared his extensive knowledge of science for the benefit of the community through his service on the Virginia State Water Control Board and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission; and WHEREAS, a longtime member of the Chesterfield County Republican Committee, Tom Van Auken supported and mentored many candidates and party leaders over several decades and employed his passion for photography by serving as their unofficial photographer; and WHEREAS, Tom …
Sponsors
- Rodney Willett (D, 58) · primary sponsor
- Glen Sturtevant (R, 12)
- Ware, R. (R, 72)
- Schuyler VanValkenburg (D, 16)
Latest actions
- : Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ306ER)
- : Agreed to by Senate
- : Agreed to by Senate by voice vote
- : Laid on Clerk's Desk
- : Received
- : Agreed to by House
- : Engrossed by House
- : Presented and laid on Speaker's table 26100197D
Common questions
- What is HJR306?
- HJR306 is a bill in the Virginia Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Celebrating the life of Thomas Vincent Van Auken, Jr.
- What is the status of HJR306?
- Passed both chambers as of April 13, 2026. Latest action: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ306ER) (April 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HJR306?
- Rodney Willett (D, 58), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HJR306?
- On the Virginia Legislature website: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJR306
Source: official Virginia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.