# Virginia HB1966: Commercial use of public places; civil penalty.

Virginia HB1966, Commercial use of public places; civil penalty., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Anne Ferrell Tata (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Counties, Cities and Towns) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1966-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1966
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Commercial use of public places; civil penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Counties, Cities and Towns
- Sponsor: Anne Ferrell Tata (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Counties, Cities and Towns
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (5 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Commercial use of public places; civil penalty. Allows cities and towns by ordinance to establish a uniform schedule of civil penalties for commercial use of a street, avenue, park, bridge, or any other public place or public property or any public easement of a city or town, in a manner not permitted to the general public, without having first legally obtained the consent of the city or town. The bill provides that the schedule of civil penalties shall be uniform for each type of specified violation, and the penalty for any one violation, unless elsewhere authorized, shall not exceed (i) $500 for the initial violation, (ii) $1,000 for the second violation, or (iii) $1,500 for the third or subsequent violation.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Anne Ferrell Tata (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-17 | House | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | pass | 5 | 3 | 1 |

## Actions (5)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-01-17: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2025-01-15: Assigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25101831D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014202.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014201.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014202.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014201.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1966-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).