# Virginia SB506: Vehicle equipment; clear film on windshields.

Virginia SB506, Vehicle equipment; clear film on windshields., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Luther Cifers, III (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0894)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB506-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB506
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Vehicle equipment; clear film on windshields.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0894)
- Sponsor: Luther Cifers, III (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (221 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

Vehicle equipment; films on windshields. Authorizes the application of clear film to the windshield of a vehicle, so long as it is maintained in a condition consistent with federal requirements.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More rear tint for SUVs and pickups: benefit, low. Multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks may use darker tint on rear side and rear windows. These vehicles are not bound by the 35% light rule on those rear windows.
- How police enforce tint rules: benefit, low. The state sets the standards for devices that measure window tint. Police must use approved equipment. A minus 7 percentage-point tolerance applies to officers’ measurements. Police may not stop a vehicle just for a tint violation. Any evidence from an illegal tint-only stop cannot be used in court…
- Special vehicle exemptions from tint limits: benefit, low. Law‑enforcement vehicles are exempt from these tint rules. For EMS vehicles that carry patients, the rear and rear‑side windows are exempt. Licensed security canine handlers on private security duty are not subject to the listed tint limits while working. Sightseeing and contract passenger carriers…
- Criminal penalties for illegal tint installers: cost, medium. Installers and businesses that put on illegal tint face criminal charges. A first offense is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Any later offense is a Class 2 misdemeanor. This applies when films block too much light, reflect more than 20%, or create holographic or prism effects.
- Core window tint limits for drivers: cost, low. The law bans most films and colored materials on windshields and windows, with limited exceptions. Rear side and rear windows must let in at least 35% of light. Front side windows must let in at least 50% of light. Film reflectance cannot be over 20%, and films cannot make holographic or prism effe…
- Fines and fixes for illegal tint: mixed, low. Using illegal tint is a traffic infraction, but the state does not give demerit points. If you show proof you fixed the issue by your court date, the judge may dismiss the case. If you are convicted again within one year for driving the same vehicle with a tinted or smoked windshield, the court can…
- Sticker and mirror rules for windows: mixed, low. If your side mirrors show at least 200 feet behind, you may use one clear right‑angle rear‑view lens (up to 18 inches round or 11 by 14 inches) and put any stickers on rear side or rear windows. You may also drive even if your rear window view is blocked when you have those mirrors. One small rear‑…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Luther Cifers, III (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Reported from Transportation | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 39 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Transportation Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Transportation with amendment | pass | 13 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (32)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0894) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 894 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB506) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB506ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB506) (Senate)
- 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 (39-Y 1-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Transportation Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Engrossed by Senate as amended (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: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from Transportation with amendment (13-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB506) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100863D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223188.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223187.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209946.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209945.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108666.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108665.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104797.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100036.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090606.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090605.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/1223188.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223187.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209946.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209945.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108666.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108665.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104797.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100036.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090606.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090605.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-SB506-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).