# Virginia HB778: Pop-up events; local enhanced enforcement actions.

Virginia HB778, Pop-up events; local enhanced enforcement actions., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Virgil Thornton (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-06 (Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB778-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB778
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Pop-up events; local enhanced enforcement actions.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-02-06, Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Virgil Thornton (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Counties, Cities and Towns
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Pop-up events; local enhanced enforcement actions. Allows a locality by ordinance to establish pop-up event zones, as defined in the bill, for the purpose of taking enhanced enforcement actions within such zone if the pop-up event may significantly disrupt normal community operations. A local governing body's presiding officer, a locality's chief law-enforcement officer, and a locality's chief administrative officer must be in concurrence to activate such zone. The bill requires a locality to give notification of a pop-up event zone through an online webpage, providing as much advance notice as is practicable. The bill further grants the authority to take enhanced enforcement actions such as (i) declaring the pop-up event zone a gun free zone, (ii) establishing temporary speed limit reductions and enhanced traffic fines within the pop-up event zone, (iii) establishing and enforcing occupancy limits on both public and private property within the pop-up event zone, and (iv) declaring a curfew for unaccompanied minors. The bill allows a locality to recover all relevant costs and fees incurred from the designation and enforcement of the zone directly from event organizers.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Virgil Thornton (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (3)

- 2026-02-06: Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101452D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085867.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085866.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085867.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085866.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB778-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).