# Virginia SB51: Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts.

Virginia SB51, Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-03-09 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 29-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB51-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB51
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-11-24
- Last action: 2026-03-09, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 29-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (254 yes, 93 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts. Requires every locality with a population of 400,000 or greater to elect the members of its governing body by individual single-member districts. The bill provides that a governing body's presiding officer may be elected at large. The bill further provides that any such governing body that does not already meet the requirements of the bill shall establish the required districts and shall reapportion the representation in the governing body in accordance with general law. Finally, the bill provides that for any such governing body that, prior to 2026, adopted an ordinance with a map to elect its members by individual single-member districts, such ordinance shall become effective upon the effective date of this act. This bill is identical to HB 168 and contains an emergency clause.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local elections now in November: mixed, low. The law holds city, town, and school board elections during the November general election for any election after January 1, 2022. It covers mayors, local governing body members, and elected school board members. Winners start their terms on January 1. Local election officials place these contests o…
- New rules for district-based local elections: mixed, low. If your locality requires members to live in a district or ward, only voters in that district choose that seat. In localities with 400,000 or more people, for elections held after July 1, 2026, all governing body members are elected from single-member districts with equal population. The presiding…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-09 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 67 | 29 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 20 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Passed House | pass | 72 | 26 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns | pass | 16 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 26 | 14 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Local Government Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (40)

- 2026-03-09: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 29-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0008) (Governor)
- 2026-03-09: Reenrolled bill text (SB51ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Approved by Governor-Chapter 8 (Effective 3/9/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-09: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-03-05: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-02-26: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 05, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-02-26: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 26, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB51) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB51ER) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-16: Passed House (72-Y 26-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-15: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (16-Y 5-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)
- 2026-01-30: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB51) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Committee substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (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: Committee substitute printed 26106179D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Reported from Local Government with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-11-24: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-11-24: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100881D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214812.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214811.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195156.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195155.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194943.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168664.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168663.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097158.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096444.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097157.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096443.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-11-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081752.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081750.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/1214812.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214811.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195156.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195155.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194943.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168664.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168663.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097158.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096444.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097157.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096443.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081752.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081750.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-SB51-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).