# Virginia SB59: Photo speed monitoring devices; photo-monitoring systems for traffic signals, proof of violation.

Virginia SB59, Photo speed monitoring devices; photo-monitoring systems for traffic signals, proof of violation., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0965)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB59-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB59
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Photo speed monitoring devices; photo-monitoring systems for traffic signals, proof of violation.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-12-01
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0965)
- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 13 (329 yes, 206 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## Summary

Photo speed monitoring devices; photo-monitoring systems for traffic signals; school bus video-monitoring systems; proof of violation; certain persons swearing to or affirming certificates; training. Authorizes retired sworn law-enforcement officers, registered special conservators of the peace, and technicians employed by a locality to swear to or to affirm certificates for the purposes of enforcement of violations recorded by traffic light signal violation monitoring systems, traffic control device violation monitoring systems, photo speed monitoring devices, or school bus video-monitoring systems upon completion of a training course developed and approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The bill also requires law-enforcement officers swearing to or affirming such certificates to complete such training course. These provisions of the bill have an effective date of July 1, 2027. The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop, approve, and make available such training course no later than January 1, 2027. This bill incorporates SB 81 and is identical to HB 684.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Drivers gain speed camera privacy protections: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, agencies must collect only photo-speed information needed for enforcement and use it for the stated enforcement purposes. Public release, sale, marketing, and disclosure are barred except for enforcement, an owner's or operator's challenge, or a court order. Use in unrelated…
- Traffic cameras require safety checks and notice: benefit, low. Localities choosing red-light camera sites must consider crash rates, violation rates, and whether officers can safely catch violators nearby. They can also consider pedestrian risk. Before deployment, an engineering study must review signal timing and site safety; reasonable recommended safety imp…
- Local employees face camera-based vehicle discipline: cost, low. Counties, cities, and towns can use traffic camera images and related information to discipline their employees. This authority applies only when the recorded vehicle is owned, leased, or rented by that locality.
- Drivers can challenge mailed speed summonses: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, a mailed photo-speed summons can presume the vehicle's owner, lessee, or renter was driving. Recipients can rebut this with an affidavit or sworn testimony naming the driver. They can also present a certified police report showing the vehicle was reported stolen before the v…
- Hampton Roads cameras require first-offense warnings: mixed, low. Localities in Virginia Planning District 23 can adopt camera-enforcement ordinances for intersections they deem harmed by the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Express Lanes Hampton Segment (4C) Project. These programs can impose monetary penalties for traffic control device violations. Before starting e…
- Mailed speed fines limit driver consequences: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, mailed photo-speed penalties are not driver convictions and do not appear on driving records. They cannot be used for vehicle insurance purposes. Convictions from summonses personally issued by an officer at the violation still go on driving records and can affect insurance.…
- Speed cameras bring fines and warnings: mixed, low. State and local police can use speed cameras in school crossing zones, highway work zones, and qualifying high-risk intersection segments. High-risk segments must be within the locality, within 1,000 feet of a school, and include a marked crosswalk. Police must certify that a traffic fatality occur…
- Camera vendors face pay and data limits: mixed, low. Localities cannot pay red-light camera providers based on violation counts or monetary penalties imposed. Beginning July 1, 2027, private vendors can supply photo-speed equipment and support services to law-enforcement agencies. Their pay must reflect the value provided, not paid violation counts o…
- More trained staff certify camera violations: mixed, low. The law expands who can certify camera evidence to include qualifying officers, retired sworn officers, registered special conservators, and locality-employed technicians. Certifiers must meet the training, employment, and authorization requirements that apply to their role and camera system. Sworn…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 58 | 38 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 26 | 12 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | House substitute with amendment rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Passed House with substitute with amendment | pass | 60 | 38 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Failed to pass House | fail | 40 | 59 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Reported from Transportation with substitute | pass | 14 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 31 | 9 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Transportation Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | Senate | Reported from Transportation with substitute | pass | 12 | 3 |   |

## Actions (60)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0965) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 965 (Effective 7/1/2027) (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB59) (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 (SB59ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB59) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 12-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (58-Y 38-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Hayes, Delaney, Leftwich (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-12: House substitute with amendment rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Passed House with substitute with amendment (60-Y 38-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended (House)
- 2026-03-12: Delegate Simon Floor amendment agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-12: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Aird, Williams Graves, Diggs (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: House insisted on substitute with amendment (House)
- 2026-03-12: Floor (House)
- 2026-03-11: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-03-11: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-03-11: Failed to pass House (40-Y 59-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Transportation Substituteagreed to by House (House)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB59) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Committee substitute printed 26109254D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-05: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-03-05: Incorporates SB150 (Craig) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from Transportation with substitute (14-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-20: Assigned HTRAN sub: Innovations (Ad Hoc) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee on Transportation (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 (SB59) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 9-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Transportation Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Committee substitute printed 26105955D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Read first time (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB59) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Reported from Transportation with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2025-12-01: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate)
- 2025-12-01: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100463D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224841.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224840.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214238.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214237.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211760.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211757.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211756.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207990.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1208570.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196358.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196022.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196357.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196021.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191872.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191871.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096618.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096617.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094279.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094278.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-12-01: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081775.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081774.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/1224841.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224840.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214238.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214237.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211760.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211757.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211756.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207990.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1208570.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196358.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196022.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196357.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196021.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191872.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191871.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096618.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096617.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094279.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094278.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081775.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081774.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-SB59-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).