VirginiaSB6482026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Counties, cities, & towns; members of governing body, continuing personal interest in transactions.

Sponsored By: Russet Perry (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Local government; certain towns; suspension of officers, study, remedial plan, and meeting requirements. Provides that any member of a governing body in any locality, who has been employed by any governmental agency that is a component part of and that is subject to the ultimate control of the governing body of which he is a member, is deemed to have continuing personal interest in that agency for a period of two years following the termination of such employment. The bill also requires the court, in a criminal proceeding against an officer of any town in Planning District 8 with a population between 8,000 and 10,000 alleging the commission of a felony offense, to enter an order suspending the officer pending the resolution of such proceeding and any related proceeding for the officer's removal. The bill requires any such town to also procure a study by a public institution of higher education to evaluate the condition and status of the town's debt, infrastructure, utilities, and other significant liability risks. Such town is required to adopt a plan consistent with the study to address such town's needs, as identified in the study, in a fiscally appropriate manner that does not jeopardize the town's bond rating. The bill also prohibits the town council of any such town from voting on matters that have not been properly published at least three days prior to the vote as part of a town council agenda or otherwise approved as additional agenda items or as amendments to existing agenda items by a three-fourths vote of all the members of the council at the start of the meeting. The bill requires that any full-time town manager of such town must be a resident of the Commonwealth unless the town council has waived such requirement by a majority vote. This bill is identical to HB 505.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.

Open meeting rules and resident challenges

In Planning District 8 towns with 8,000–10,000 people, councils can only vote on items published at least three days before the meeting. They can add items at the start only with a three‑fourths vote of all members. Any resident can challenge an improper vote in the county’s general district court. These cases get priority, and winners can recover attorney fees.

Felony-charged town officers suspended

In Planning District 8 towns with 8,000–10,000 people, courts must suspend a town officer who is charged with a felony. The district court may suspend if the case starts there; the circuit court must suspend if it starts or moves there. The court can end the suspension after an acquittal or dismissal, and may appoint someone to act in the officer’s place.

Two-year conflict rule for officials

Local governing-body members are treated as having a personal interest in any agency they used to work for. This applies when that agency is under the governing body’s control. The rule lasts for two years after the job ends. The law uses the state code definition of “personal interest.”

Planning District 8 towns: finance study and plan

Towns in Planning District 8 with 8,000–10,000 people must hire a public university (15,000+ students) to study debt, infrastructure, utilities, and major liability risks. The study must consult a chief administrative officer from a PD8 locality with at least 500,000 people and finish by July 1, 2027. It must include priorities and any recommended charter changes. After the study, the town must adopt a plan that follows the study and protects its bond rating.

Some provisions end July 1, 2028

The law sets an end date for its second enactment. Those provisions expire on July 1, 2028.

Town managers must live in Virginia

In Planning District 8 towns with 8,000–10,000 people, a full-time town manager must be a Virginia resident. The town council can waive this rule by a simple majority vote.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Russet Perry

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 388 • No: 167

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 66 • No: 32

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 31 • No: 6

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 66 • No: 28

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 38

House vote 2/25/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 70 • No: 26

House vote 2/20/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute

Yes: 16 • No: 5

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 30 • No: 9 • Other: 1

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Reported from Local Government

Yes: 9 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (66-Y 32-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  2. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1022)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (SB648ER2)

    4/22/2026Senate
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026Senate
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter1022 (Effective 4/22/2026)

    4/22/2026Governor
  7. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  9. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  10. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

    4/13/2026Governor
  11. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  12. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  13. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  14. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB648ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  15. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  16. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  17. Conference report agreed to by House (66-Y 28-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  18. Conference report agreed to by Senate (31-Y 6-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  19. Passed by for the day

    3/12/2026House
  20. Conference Report released

    3/12/2026
  21. Conference Report released

    3/12/2026
  22. Conference Report released

    3/11/2026
  23. House Conferees: McAuliff, Reid, Cherry

    3/6/2026House
  24. Conferees appointed by House

    3/6/2026House
  25. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate

Bill Text

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