Mr. Northam’s initial response to the scandal was bungled, but he has since embarked on a campaign to repair damaged relationships with black constituents and lawmakers, which included the task force.

And in a turn of events, the embattled governor has moved from a precarious perch to solid ground.

In November, the state made a historic partisan shift from red to blue when Democrats took control of both chambers of the legislature and consolidated power across the state government. Now, Mr. Northam is poised to be one of the most consequential Democratic governors in the country.

The governor has goals to strengthen L.G.B.T.Q. protections and gun restrictions. He could also clear the path to remove Confederate statues across the state, an issue that has drawn national attention since a deadly confrontation in Charlottesville erupted between white nationalists and individuals who supported local officials’ plans to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee from the college town.

The commission did not make any specific recommendations for handling the laws governing the statues, according to the report, but said it “will continue its careful and deliberate review of the Acts concerning the Confederacy and will await orderly judicial or legislative actions.”

Next year, the commission is scheduled to go deeper, the report said, and will seek out language that appears to be race-neutral or nondiscriminatory, but has “the effect of perpetuating discrimination and racial inequity.”

Delegate Lamont Bagby, who heads the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, made it clear that the governor had brought the idea of the commission to the group.

Speaking to members of the committee and a small audience at Thursday’s news conference with Mr. Northam, Mr. Bagby praised the governor and said that oftentimes, a report or committee signals that an issue would be swept under the rug.