All Roll Calls
Yes: 210 • No: 1
Sponsored By: Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31 (Republican)
Became Law
Military and emergency laws; local emergency management plans. Changes from every four years to every five years the frequency with which every local and interjurisdictional agency has to review and update its emergency operations plan.
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6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
When the Governor declares a state of emergency, localities in the disaster area get extra authority. They can control the use and sale of food, fuel, clothing, and other goods within their borders without affecting neighbors. They can enter contracts, hire, and spend to protect health and safety and give emergency help. They can bypass normal procedures, except constitutional rules, under the Governor’s supervision.
Local emergency directors can make mutual aid agreements with other public or private groups and with other states. Local agencies must help each other under these agreements, consistent with state plans. If no agreement exists, a locality cannot block another from sending EMS across the border just for money.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management oversees all localities. Every city, county, and town must run an emergency management agency for its whole area. In cities, the mayor or city manager serves as director and appoints a coordinator with council consent. In counties, a board‑selected supervisor or the chief administrative officer serves and appoints a coordinator with the governing body’s consent. Towns appoint a coordinator to integrate with the county system; Chincoteague, West Point, and any town over 5,000 with its own organization appoint a coordinator of emergency services. In Smyth and York Counties, the chief administrative officer appoints a director, who then appoints a coordinator with governing body consent.
If directed by the state, any locality with a nuclear power station or other nuclear facility within 10 miles must prepare and keep current a nuclear emergency plan.
By August 1 each year, every locality sends the state an emergency readiness assessment and shelter data. The report lists shelter sites, evacuation zones, capacity (people and medical needs), wind rating, standards compliance, backup power, and the staffing lead. Localities with more than 50,000 people must keep an alert and warning plan, with tools like sirens, the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radios, personal alerts, or amateur radio. The law set July 1, 2005, as the compliance date for large localities.
Local and regional agencies must keep an up‑to‑date emergency operations plan. The plan lists agency duties, the chain of command, and contacts for the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund to help victims. It must ensure fair help for minority and vulnerable communities. Every five years, the plan is fully reviewed and formally adopted by the governing body or bodies. Local emergency agencies can require reviews and suggest changes to plans for nursing homes, assisted living, adult day centers, and child day care centers.
Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31
Republican • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 210 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 38 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
Reported from General Laws and Technology
Yes: 11 • No: 1 • Other: 2
House vote • 1/29/2026
Read third time and passed House Block Vote
Yes: 99 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2026
Reported from Public Safety
Yes: 22 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0116)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 116 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB347)
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB347ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from General Laws and Technology (11-Y 1-N 2-A)
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read second time and engrossed
Read first time
Reported from Public Safety (22-Y 0-N)
Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB347)
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102327D
Chaptered
4/6/2026
Enrolled
2/25/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
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