# Virginia HB347: Military and emergency laws; local emergency management plans.

Virginia HB347, Military and emergency laws; local emergency management plans., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Ellen H. McLaughlin (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0116)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB347-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB347
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Military and emergency laws; local emergency management plans.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0116)
- Sponsor: Ellen H. McLaughlin (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (210 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local plans strengthen emergency victim protections: benefit, low. Local and shared emergency plans must require immediate contact with two state agencies when emergencies involve victims covered by state law. Those agencies are the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. They coordinate victim assista…
- Virginia localities must report shelter readiness: benefit, low. Each Virginia local government must send an updated emergency assessment and shelter data to the state emergency coordinator by August 1 annually. Reports must list shelter locations, evacuation zones, and how many people each shelter can hold. They must also report capacity for people with medical…
- Local emergency plans reviewed less often: cost, low. Local agencies, including those serving several localities, must fully review and revise emergency plans every five years instead of four. Each covered locality's governing body must formally adopt the revised plan.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ellen H. McLaughlin (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 22 | 0 |   |

## Actions (25)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0116) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 116 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB347) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB347ER) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from General Laws and Technology (11-Y 1-N 2-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-23: Reported from Public Safety (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB347) (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102327D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216476.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216475.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177859.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177858.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083941.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083940.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/1216476.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216475.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177859.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177858.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083941.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083940.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB347-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).