VirginiaHB11892026 Regular SessionHouse

State of preparedness; feasibility & impact of program to prioritize prevention/mitigation, etc.

Sponsored By: Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Department of Emergency Management; state of preparedness; report. Directs the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency. The Department of Emergency Management shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1, 2026.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

State study on emergency readiness program

The law directs Virginia’s emergency management department to study a new program to prevent and lessen harm from imminent emergencies. It defines a “state of preparedness” as a Governor’s declaration to ready help before a disaster. The study sets clear criteria for when the state acts without a full emergency declaration. It reviews how to buy, maintain, and stage supplies and equipment in the right amounts and places. It examines whether the state can seek reimbursement from people who cause or worsen an emergency. It estimates staff, admin, and equipment costs for state and local responders. The report is due to the Governor and key committee chairs by November 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Israel D. O'Quinn

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 331 • No: 0

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Public Safety with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0455)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 455 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1189)

    4/1/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

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

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1189ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  12. General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/10/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/10/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/9/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/9/2026Senate
  18. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    3/6/2026Senate
  19. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1189)

    2/26/2026House
  20. Committee substitute printed 26108558D-S1

    2/26/2026Senate
  21. Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  22. Senate committee offered

    2/24/2026Senate
  23. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    2/18/2026Senate
  24. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  25. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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