# Virginia SB541: Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth.

Virginia SB541, Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Richard H. Stuart (Republican); status passed senate, last action 2026-03-06 (Continued to 2027 in Rules (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB541-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB541
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-03-06, Continued to 2027 in Rules (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Studies Subcommittee
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (71 yes, 20 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth. Provides that the Commonwealth shall observe Eastern Standard Time year-round upon the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland enacting legislation providing that United States Eastern Standard Time shall be observed in all parts of the respective district or state year-round.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Continued to 2027 in Rules (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 24 | 16 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 36 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment | pass | 11 | 4 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-03-06: Continued to 2027 in Rules (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-03-01: Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Rules (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (11-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101613D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Engrossed, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149215.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149214.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145066.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142278.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090760.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090759.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
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149215.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149214.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145066.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142278.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090760.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090759.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-SB541-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).