All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 0
Sponsored By: Bryce E. Reeves (Republican)
Became Law
Flashing red and white warning lights; emergency vehicle exemptions; Department of Military Affairs emergency vehicles. Authorizes Department of Military Affairs emergency vehicles to (i) be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating red or red and white combination warning lights and (ii) disregard certain regulations regarding the operation of vehicles without being subject to criminal prosecution while responding to an emergency. This bill is identical to HB 351.
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3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Police vehicles may exceed speed limits to test speedometers, test official speed devices, or follow a car to measure its speed. During funeral, wide‑load, dignitary, or other needed escorts, police may go past red lights at reduced speed, ignore some speed and turn rules, and pass other vehicles. Officers must still use due care, and may use a siren or similar device during escorts.
The law lets authorized emergency drivers, during emergencies, exceed speed limits, go past red lights or stop signs after slowing, ignore some parking and turn rules, and pass stopped traffic even in no‑passing zones or off the roadway. To use these breaks, they must use flashing emergency lights and usually sound a siren, exhaust whistle, or air horn; for red lights, they can instead slow to a safe speed and yield or stop when needed. Vehicles must carry at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for injuries, and $20,000 for property damage, or have a state self‑insurance certificate. These privileges do not excuse reckless driving, and drivers can still be sued for not using reasonable care.
Department of Military Affairs and Virginia National Guard Civil Support Team vehicles count as emergency vehicles when responding. WMATA Response and Recovery and certified mine rescue team vehicles also qualify, if drivers finish an approved emergency‑vehicle course and recertify every two years. DEQ vehicles going to an emergency may pass stopped traffic by leaving the main roadway on the right or left. DEQ must show red or red‑and‑white warning lights for this; a siren is not required.
Bryce E. Reeves
Republican • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 0
House vote • 2/27/2026
Passed House Block Vote
Yes: 96 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2026
Reported from Transportation
Yes: 21 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/3/2026
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/2/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/2/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/29/2026
Reported from Transportation
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0119)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 119 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB573)
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB573ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read third time
Read second time
Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)
Referred to Committee on Transportation
Read first time
Placed on Calendar
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day
Rules suspended
Reported from Transportation (15-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB573)
Chaptered
4/6/2026
Enrolled
3/4/2026
Introduced
1/14/2026
SB767 — Motor vehicles; glass repair and replacement, emissions inspections, penalties, repeals.
Motor vehicle glass repair and replacement; emissions inspection; penalties. Establishes various notice requirements for motor vehicle glass repair shops, defined in the bill, and provides that a violation of such requirements is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill permits a motor vehicle to qualify for an emissions inspection waiver if such vehicle has failed an inspection and the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system is in a not-ready condition to be tested when presented for reinspection. This bill is identical to HB 312.
SB803 — Virginia Fair Housing Law; regulations defining terms related to unlawful conduct.
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful conduct. Directs the Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining "quid pro quo harassment," "hostile environment harassment," and other terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. The bill directs the Fair Housing Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
SB731 — Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 547.
SB620 — Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc.
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers; purchase, possession, and sale of retail tobacco products; penalties; report. Transitions and provides a more comprehensive structure for the current licensing and enforcement responsibilities related to liquid nicotine and retail tobacco products from the Department of Taxation to a permitting system administered by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill requires the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage and Control Authority to conduct an unannounced buyer operation at least once every 24 months to verify that a permittee, defined in the bill, is not selling retail tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. Portions of the bill have a delayed effective date of October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 308.
SB599 — Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure.
Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to HB 455.
SB666 — Residential land development and construction; fee transparency, local housing development.
Department of Housing and Community Development; housing development database. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to collect from each locality and make available to the public, localities, state agencies, and other state and regional public entities in a centralized, machine-readable, screen reader compatible database various data for each new and existing housing development in each locality in the Commonwealth, including data related to the number of housing development plans submitted and approved by the locality and the average approval timeline for housing development plans.