# Virginia HB819: Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways.

Virginia HB819, Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Betsy B. Carr (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0431)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB819-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB819
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0431)
- Sponsor: Betsy B. Carr (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (209 yes, 11 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways. Permits pedestrians, when walking on a roadway that is part of a highway divided by a physical barrier or barriers or an unpaved area, and when there are no shoulders of the highway present, to keep to the extreme right side or edge of the roadway, regardless of the direction of traffic they face. Under current law, pedestrians, when permitted to walk on a roadway, are required to keep to the extreme left side or edge thereof. The bill also clarifies current law, which requires pedestrians walking on a roadway to face oncoming traffic.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New Virginia rules for walking on roads: mixed, low. The law limits when you can walk in the roadway. Use the sidewalk if it is reasonably suitable and passable. If you must walk on the road, stay at the extreme left edge, or use a shoulder if it is wide enough. You must face oncoming traffic. On divided highways with no shoulders, you may keep to th…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Betsy B. Carr (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Reported from Transportation | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 88 | 10 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Reported from Transportation | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 |   |

## Actions (26)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0431) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 431 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB819) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB819ER) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-03: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Reported from Transportation (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB819) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed House (88-Y 10-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Transportation (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Transportation (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100641D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218047.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218046.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197967.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197966.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086024.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086023.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/1218047.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218046.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197967.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197966.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086024.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086023.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-HB819-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).