# Virginia HB63: Southwest Reg. Recreation Authority; certification of Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers.

Virginia HB63, Southwest Reg. Recreation Authority; certification of Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James W. Morefield (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB63-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB63
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Southwest Reg. Recreation Authority; certification of Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-30
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360)
- Sponsor: James W. Morefield (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (222 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority; certification of Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers. Provides that Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers appointed by the board of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority may be certified through the successful completion of training at an approved criminal justice academy as necessary and proper to protect and enforce the safe use and enjoyment of the Authority's properties.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Rangers enforce rules on Southwest Recreation Area: benefit, low. The Southwest Regional Recreation Area Authority appoints rangers. Rangers enforce the board’s rules and can issue civil penalties. They may be appointed as special conservators of the peace or be certified by an approved criminal justice academy. Rangers keep order on Authority property, nearby pa…
- Rangers get pay, uniforms, and badges: benefit, low. The Authority’s board pays ranger salaries. The board provides each ranger an official uniform. While on duty, rangers must wear a shield and carry credentials that show their identity and authority.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James W. Morefield (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Local Government | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 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 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 0 |   |

## Actions (24)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 360 (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)
- 2026-03-02: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB63ER) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-02: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-25: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (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: Reported from Local Government (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 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 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)
- 2026-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2025-12-30: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2025-12-30: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102536D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217683.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217682.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182228.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182227.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-12-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082212.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082211.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/1217683.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217682.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182228.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182227.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082212.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082211.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-HB63-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).