# Virginia HB1401: Eminent domain; certificate of take, description of property.

Virginia HB1401, Eminent domain; certificate of take, description of property., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Margaret A. Franklin (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0841)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1401-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1401
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Eminent domain; certificate of take, description of property.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0841)
- Sponsor: Margaret A. Franklin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 11 (389 yes, 8 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Eminent domain; certificate of take; description of property. Clarifies that a certificate of take in any eminent domain matter may include a combination of one or more plats, drawings, or plans to provide the description of the property being taken as required by law.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Clearer highway taking notices for owners: benefit, low. For highway projects, the Commissioner of Highways must describe the land or interest taken and name the owner if known. For easements, the certificate must describe the rights and the purpose. Plans with specs, elevations, any grade changes, area sizes, overlaps, and the public use project must be…
- Clearer taking notices for property owners: benefit, low. The law requires condemnors to clearly describe the land and rights taken, and to name the owner if known. For easements, they must explain the specific rights and why they are needed. They must attach plats, drawings, or plans that show the work in detail, including specs, elevations, and any grad…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Margaret A. Franklin (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 92 | 2 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 93 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 21 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0841) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 841 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1401) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1401ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate substitute agreed to by House (92-Y 2-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Committee substitute printed 26108619D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (93-Y 4-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1401) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-22: Presented and ordered printed 26103990D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222718.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222717.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213545.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213544.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200551.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199211.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200550.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199210.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093716.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093715.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222718.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222717.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213545.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213544.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200551.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199211.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200550.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199210.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093716.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093715.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1401-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).