# Virginia HB940: Suffolk, City of; amending charter, clarifying membership of city council.

Virginia HB940, Suffolk, City of; amending charter, clarifying membership of city council., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0243)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB940-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB940
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Suffolk, City of; amending charter, clarifying membership of city council.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0243)
- Sponsor: Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (218 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Charter; City of Suffolk. Corrects an error in the existing charter of the City of Suffolk to clarify that the city council shall consist of eight members to reflect the addition of the directly elected mayor to the city council. The bill also removes obsolete language to clarify the appointment process and responsibilities of the city clerk. Finally, the bill updates language to reflect the city manager's direct responsibility for the department directors, consistent with the City of Suffolk's established management and reporting structure. This bill is identical to SB 303.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Suffolk adds a city council seat: benefit, low. Suffolk’s city council grows from seven members to eight. The city manager appoints, oversees, and can remove department directors at any time, except law, education, the clerk, and the assessor. Directors covered by these rules must give reports, recommendations, and requested advice to the manage…
- Suffolk limits city records access hours: cost, low. You can inspect public records in Suffolk’s city clerk’s office only during regular business hours, instead of at any time. The law sets no new fee. The council also appoints the clerk without the former fixed four-year term. The clerk keeps city records, handles the city seal, and pays all receipt…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic), 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 Block Vote | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns | pass | 21 | 0 |   |

## Actions (24)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0243) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 243 (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 (HB940ER) (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 Block Vote (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #1 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101864D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217058.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217057.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182245.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182244.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086586.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086585.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/1217058.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217057.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182245.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182244.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086586.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086585.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-HB940-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).