# Virginia SB462: Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed. Virginia SB462, Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Luther Cifers, III (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0195)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB462-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB462 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0195) - Sponsor: Luther Cifers, III (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 10 (324 yes, 4 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary Charter; Town of Louisa. Establishes a new charter for the Town of Louisa in Louisa County and repeals the current charter, which was created in 1972. The new charter sets out the organization of the town's government and contains powers typically granted to towns. This bill is identical to HB 657. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Local police department and powers: benefit, low. The council may appoint a Chief of Police and create a police department. The Town Manager handles administration, but the Chief directs law‑enforcement work. Town police officers have constable powers under Virginia law to enforce criminal laws and town ordinances. - Mayor and council rules and meetings: benefit, low. The town has a Mayor and five at‑large council members, each serving four‑year terms. The council elects a Vice‑Mayor for two years. The Mayor runs meetings and can break tie votes; the Vice‑Mayor or an Acting Mayor fills in when needed. The council meets at least monthly, sets its own rules, and t… - Town taxes, fees, and borrowing rules: cost, low. The Town Council may levy and collect taxes and fees that Virginia law allows. The Town Treasurer keeps financial records and collects town taxes and licenses. The town’s fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30. The town may issue bonds and borrow within state limits to fund projects, which can mea… - New charter sets town powers and borders: mixed, low. This law repeals the old 1972 charter and replaces it. It keeps Louisa as an incorporated town with full powers under Virginia law. It fixes the town’s borders using earlier state acts, a 1955 court order, and a recorded plat. Current town ordinances stay in effect unless they conflict with this ch… - Town manager, hiring, and pay rules: mixed, low. The council can appoint a Town Manager, Clerk, Attorney, Treasurer, and Police Chief. The Town Manager runs daily operations, hires and supervises staff, prepares the budget, presents an annual audit, and leads emergency management. Appointed officers serve at the council’s pleasure. One person may… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Luther Cifers, III (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-26 | House | Passed House | pass | 93 | 4 | | | 2026-02-20 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reconsideration of Passed by for the day agreed to Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-01-28 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-26 | Senate | Reported from Local Government | pass | 13 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (32) - 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0195) (Governor) - 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 195 (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 (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB462ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-26: Passed House (93-Y 4-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-26: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-26: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House) - 2026-02-25: Passed by for the day (House) - 2026-02-24: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-20: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House) - 2026-02-04: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-04: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Reconsideration of Passed by for the day agreed to Block Vote (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Read first time (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Reported from Local Government (13-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102690D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216686.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216685.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1184749.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1184748.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090378.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090376.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/1216686.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216685.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1184749.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1184748.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090378.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090376.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-SB462-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).