VirginiaHB12312026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Commonwealth Aviation Fund; changes allocation amounts.

Sponsored By: Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Commonwealth Aviation Fund; allocations. Changes (i) the allocation amounts from the Commonwealth Aviation Fund, (ii) the entity to which certain funds from such Fund are allocated from air carrier airports to commercial service airport sponsors, and (iii) the classification of airports from air carrier airport and reliever airport to commercial service airport and regional business airport, respectively.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New funding split for Virginia airports

The law creates a permanent Commonwealth Aviation Fund. Money left over and any interest stay in the fund. When new money is above $12.1 million, the extra is split—40% to air carrier airports and 60% to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), but MWAA’s share from this split is capped at $2 million. Also, 6% of the extra is set aside for MWAA as entitlement funds. Of the remaining funds, half go to non‑MWAA commercial service airports as entitlements based on each airport’s share of enplanements, with at least $50,000 and no more than $2,000,000 per airport per year. The other half is discretionary: in the first six months, 40% goes to air carrier and reliever airports and 10% to general aviation community and local service airports; in the second six months, the Board allocates the rest to eligible airports (not MWAA). The law sets distribution caps and floors for FY 2026 and from FY 2027 onward (including a 25% cap and 8%/4.5%/6.5% minimums by year and airport size) and preserves a floor so non‑MWAA airports do not get less than in FY 1995, aside from passenger‑count changes.

Airports must file yearly spending plans

Before entitlement funds are released, each commercial service airport sponsor must submit a plan for how the money will be used. The Virginia Aviation Board approves plans that follow its policies, and sponsors can submit revisions during the year. The Board can withhold funds if a plan is not approved or money is used outside the approved plan. The Board also reports by November 1 each year how last year’s Aviation Fund dollars were used, by airport and project status.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karrie K. Delaney

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 285 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • 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 Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Transportation (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Transportation and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Transportation

Yes: 20 • No: 0

House vote 2/5/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0458)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 458 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1231)

    4/3/2026House
  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 (HB1231ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

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

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

    3/9/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

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

    3/6/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    2/26/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Transportation

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

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

    2/17/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    2/16/2026House
  21. Read first time

    2/15/2026House
  22. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

    2/13/2026House
  23. Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    2/13/2026House
  24. Reported from Transportation and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)

    2/12/2026House
  25. Reported from Transportation (Voice Vote)

    2/12/2026House

Bill Text

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