# Virginia SB221: School crossing zones; active times, locality may increase time preceding & following school hours.

Virginia SB221, School crossing zones; active times, locality may increase time preceding & following school hours., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Michael J. Jones (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0337)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB221-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB221
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: School crossing zones; active times, locality may increase time preceding & following school hours.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-09
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0337)
- Sponsor: Michael J. Jones (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (205 yes, 15 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

School crossing zones; active times. Authorizes a local governing body, by ordinance, to increase from 30 minutes to up to 60 minutes the period of time before and after regular school hours during which school crossing zones are active if it determines that children will be going to or from school during that period of time.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Who sets up school-zone signs: benefit, low. A school crossing zone is an area near a school where children’s presence requires a special warning, and it must be clearly marked. Signs must be within 750 feet of the school or crossing, unless the state DOT or the local governing body approves another location. Cities and towns supply portable…
- School-zone speeds and fines: mixed, low. The law sets a 25 mph limit when school-zone signs show the limit and are active. In residential school zones, the limit can be 15 mph if the school board asks for it and the local government passes an ordinance. Cities and towns, and counties in Planning District 8, can change school‑zone speeds a…
- When school-zone signs are active: mixed, low. School-zone signs must be in place or flashing for 30 minutes before school starts and 30 minutes after it ends. Signs must also be active at other times when children need extra warning. Local governments may shorten the 30‑minute windows if they find no children are arriving or leaving then. They…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michael J. Jones (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House | pass | 80 | 15 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Reported from Transportation | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Transportation Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Transportation with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0337) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 337 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB221) (Senate)
- 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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB221ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed House (80-Y 15-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-06: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-03-05: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-20: Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy (House)
- 2026-02-09: Referred to Committee on Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB221) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Transportation Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Committee substitute printed 26106103D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from Transportation with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate)
- 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103248D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217555.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217554.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207016.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207015.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1106034.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1106033.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095446.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095445.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084126.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084125.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/1217555.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217554.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207016.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207015.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1106034.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1106033.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095446.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095445.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084126.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084125.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-SB221-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).