VirginiaHB6462026 Regular SessionHouse

Green warning lights; certain farm vehicles may be equipped with and use.

Sponsored By: Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Green warning lights; certain farm vehicles. Authorizes the use of green warning lights on vehicles displaying a permanent farm use placard, farm vehicles, farm tractors, and farm utility vehicles while operating on or along a highway.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Green lights for command vehicles

Beginning April 6, 2026, vehicles used by police, firefighters, or EMS as command centers at incident scenes may use approved green warning lights. The green lights cannot be on while the vehicle is driving on the highway. The Superintendent of State Police approves the light types.

Amber lights for amateur radio volunteers

Beginning April 6, 2026, vehicles used by federally licensed amateur radio operators may use approved amber lights while providing emergency communications or drills for authorities. They may also use them while providing communications for public-service events authorized by the Department of Transportation. All light types must be approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Amber lights for deliveries and pickups

Beginning April 6, 2026, mail trucks and national package-delivery vehicles that handle packages under 150 pounds may use approved amber lights. They can turn them on only when stopped and actively collecting or delivering. Petroleum or propane delivery vehicles may mount an approved rear amber light and use it while parked for delivery or while backing up with backup lights and an audible signal. Refuse trucks may use amber lights only during collection. Logging haulers may use amber lights visible from the rear while hauling. All lights must be approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Amber lights for events and on-site work

Beginning April 6, 2026, ATM service vehicles and radio or TV remote-broadcast vehicles may use approved amber lights, but not while moving. Hot air balloon chase or ground-crew vehicles may use amber lights while loading or unloading after landing, not while moving. Escort vehicles for bicycle races authorized by VDOT or the locality may use approved amber lights. Pace, security, or firefighting vehicles at speedways or race tracks may use amber lights, but not on public highways. All lights must be approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Amber lights for public safety vehicles

Beginning April 6, 2026, fire and EMS vehicles may add approved amber lights that are visible from behind, in addition to their existing emergency lights. Parking enforcement vehicles may use approved amber lights. Government-owned law-enforcement vehicles may use amber lights to direct traffic, but not while moving. Vehicles used by municipal safety officers may use approved amber lights. Local social services vehicles may use approved amber lights when responding to a law-enforcement request. All light types must be approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Amber lights for road and utility work

Beginning April 6, 2026, vehicles used to build, maintain, or repair highways or utilities, help with roadside or traffic incidents, or provide traffic management may use approved amber lights. Vehicles used for hazardous cleanup or state environmental work may use amber lights, but not while moving. Emergency snow-removal vehicles and hi-rail vehicles may use amber lights; hi-rail lights may be on only when the vehicle is on the rails. Vehicles owned and used by Virginia-licensed construction companies and publicly owned or operated transit buses may use approved amber lights. Vehicles already authorized under existing law keep their amber-light permissions. All light types must be approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Amber lights for security and neighborhood patrols

Beginning April 6, 2026, vehicles used by security-service businesses may have approved amber lights, but they cannot be on while the vehicle is on a public highway. Neighborhood watch patrol vehicles in programs approved by the locality’s chief law-enforcement officer may use approved amber lights if the vehicle is clearly marked, the light is off while moving, and patrols stay in the assigned area. All light types must be approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Amber lights for towing and roadside help

Beginning April 6, 2026, vehicles that mainly tow or service disabled vehicles may have approved flashing amber lights. Vehicles owned or controlled by a towing and recovery business that are not tow trucks may also have approved amber lights. Those lights may be on only when the vehicle is used at a towing or recovery site. All amber lights must be types the Superintendent of State Police approves.

Green and amber lights for farms

Beginning April 6, 2026, farm vehicles and tractors may use approved amber warning lights. Farm vehicles, tractors, farm utility vehicles, and vehicles with a permanent farm-use placard may also use approved green warning lights while on or along a highway. Green lights may be on only when the vehicle is operating on or along a highway. All warning lights must be types the Superintendent of State Police approves.

Purple or amber lights for funerals

Beginning April 6, 2026, vehicles that lead or escort funeral processions may use either amber or purple warning lights. A single vehicle cannot use amber and purple at the same time. The Superintendent of State Police sets the standards for purple lights.

When amber lights can be on

Beginning April 6, 2026, amber warning lights may be on only while the vehicle is doing the job that qualifies it for those lights. This rule also enforces category limits like “only when stopped and delivering.”

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Hillary Pugh Kent
Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 217 • No: 3

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/26/2026

Reported from Transportation

Yes: 13 • No: 1

House vote • 2/9/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote • 2/3/2026