# Virginia HB168: Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts.

Virginia HB168, Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Alex Q. Askew (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-03-10 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0010)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB168-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB168
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-03-10, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0010)
- Sponsor: Alex Q. Askew (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (322 yes, 130 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts. Requires every locality with a population of 400,000 or greater to elect the members of its governing body by individual single-member districts. The bill provides that a governing body's presiding officer may be elected at large. The bill further provides that any such governing body that does not already meet the requirements of the bill shall establish the required districts and shall reapportion the representation in the governing body in accordance with general law. Finally, the bill provides that for any such governing body that, prior to 2026, adopted an ordinance with a map to elect its members by individual single-member districts, such ordinance shall become effective upon the effective date of this act. This bill is identical to SB 51 and contains an emergency clause.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stricter conduct rules for local officials: cost, low. Local governing bodies can punish or fine a member for disorderly behavior. Chairs, mayors, supervisors, and council members are now covered by the state law prohibitions in Sections 15.2-1534 and 15.2-1535.
- Local elections move to November: mixed, low. Starting with elections after January 1, 2022, local elections happen in November. This covers mayor, council or board members, and elected school board members. Terms for those offices begin January 1. This rule applies even if a city or town charter says otherwise.
- New district rules for local elections: mixed, low. If your locality requires district or ward residency for seats, only voters in that district elect that seat. For elections after July 1, 2026, any locality with 400,000 or more people must use single-member districts. Each district must have about the same population, and the presiding officer may…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Alex Q. Askew (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 22 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 67 | 30 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 66 | 30 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 23 | 17 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Local Government Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 75 | 24 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 6 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 15 | 4 |   |

## Actions (45)

- 2026-03-10: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0010) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Reenrolled bill text (HB168ER2) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Approved by Governor - Chapter 10 (effective - 3/10/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-06: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 30-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB168) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB168ER) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-04: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 11, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-04: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 04, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-27: Senate substitute agreed to by House (66-Y 30-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB168) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Committee substitute printed 26108414D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB168) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed House (75-Y 24-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-01-28: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-01-28: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-23: Committee substitute printed 26105950D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-23: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB168) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-06: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103668D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214800.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214799.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195134.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195133.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191225.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191224.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194957.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171859.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171830.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171829.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171858.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095346.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095350.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094764.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095345.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095349.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094763.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082712.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082710.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/1214800.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214799.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195134.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195133.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191225.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191224.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194957.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171859.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171830.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171829.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171858.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095346.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095350.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094764.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095345.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095349.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094763.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082712.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082710.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-HB168-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).