# Virginia HB1603: Commonwealth Rail Fund; funds applied to Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund.

Virginia HB1603, Commonwealth Rail Fund; funds applied to Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Chris S. Runion (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-03-18 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0004)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1603-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1603
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Commonwealth Rail Fund; funds applied to Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-03
- Last action: 2025-03-18, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0004)
- Sponsor: Chris S. Runion (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (218 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Commonwealth Rail Fund; Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund. Removes the $4 million cap on those Commonwealth Rail Fund (Fund) moneys distributed to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation that may be applied to the Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund and instead provides that up to 50 percent of such Fund moneys may be applied to the Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund. The bill retains the current provisions granting 93 percent of Fund moneys to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and seven percent to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. This bill is identical to SB 1144.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris S. Runion (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-07 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | House | Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (30)

- 2025-03-18: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0004) (Governor)
- 2025-03-18: Approved by Governor-Chapter 4 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-02-18: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-02-18: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 18, 2025 (House)
- 2025-02-13: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1603) (House)
- 2025-02-10: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1603ER) (House)
- 2025-02-10: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-02-10: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-07: Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1603) (House)
- 2025-01-31: Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Printed as engrossed 25102160D-E (House)
- 2025-01-29: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2025-01-29: Appropriations Amendment agreed to (House)
- 2025-01-29: Read second time (House)
- 2025-01-28: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-24: Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-11: Assigned Approps sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House)
- 2025-01-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1603) (House)
- 2025-01-03: Referred to Committee on Appropriations (House)
- 2025-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102160D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1070855.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1070854.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1044236.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1044235.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030397.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030396.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-01-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026232.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012273.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012271.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1070855.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1070854.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1044236.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1044235.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030397.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030396.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026232.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012273.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012271.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [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-HB1603-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).