# Virginia SB716: Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with U.S. Department of Transportation. Virginia SB716, Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with U.S. Department of Transportation., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Danica A. Roem (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0134)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB716-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB716 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with U.S. Department of Transportation. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-14 - Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0134) - Sponsor: Danica A. Roem (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 8 (223 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation; National Environmental Policy Act. Authorizes the Commissioner of Highways to enter into agreements for a term of five years with the U.S. Department of Transportation, as provided for in federal law, regarding state assumption of responsibility for categorical exclusions and the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program. The bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume certain responsibilities of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation pursuant to such agreement. Under the bill, the Commonwealth waives its immunity from civil suit in a federal court under certain circumstances. The bill contains an expiration date of five years after the date on which the first agreement is entered into. This bill is identical to HB 411. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Public input and court access on road reviews: benefit, low. VDOT must post major changes to its NEPA Program Manual for 30 days of public comment. The comment window must start at least 45 days before the changes take effect. Virginia also waives its usual immunity so people can sue in federal court over duties VDOT takes on under these federal agreements.… - Virginia handles some federal road reviews: mixed, low. The Commissioner of Highways can sign five‑year agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under these deals, Virginia takes on parts of federal environmental review for highway projects, including some categorical exclusions and project delivery tasks. The Department can set rules and… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Danica A. Roem (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-27 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 | | | 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from Transportation | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 12 | 0 | 3 | ## Actions (28) - 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0134) (Governor) - 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 134 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB716) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB716ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-27: Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-27: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-26: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-24: Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Transportation (House) - 2026-02-24: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB716) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB716) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 0-N 3-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Presented and ordered printed 26101552D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216496.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216495.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188686.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188685.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092135.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092134.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/1216496.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216495.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188686.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188685.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092135.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092134.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-SB716-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).