# Virginia SB721: Local government actions related to comprehensive plans, etc.; approval process.

Virginia SB721, Local government actions related to comprehensive plans, etc.; approval process., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Tammy Brankley Mulchi (Republican); status failed, last action 2024-11-19 (Left in Local Government) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB721-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB721
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Local government actions related to comprehensive plans, etc.; approval process.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2024-01-19
- Last action: 2024-11-19, Left in Local Government
- Sponsor: Tammy Brankley Mulchi (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (15 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Local government actions related to comprehensive plans, local planning commissions, subdivision plats and site plans, and zoning ordinances; approval process. Makes several changes to local government land use approval processes, including (i) prohibiting use of the comprehensive plan as the basis, in whole or in part, for the disapproval of a site plan that is otherwise in conformity with duly adopted standards, ordinances, and statutes and (ii) allowing automatic approval of certain land use applications rather than a right to petition the circuit court, as provided under current law, if a locality does not approve or disapprove the application within the required timeframe. The bill also reduces from 12 months to four months the time within which a locality must initially act upon certain proposed zoning ordinance amendments and requires a locality to act on all such proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance or map that it has previously disapproved within 45 days after an amended proposal has been resubmitted for approval.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Tammy Brankley Mulchi (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-01-29 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in Local Government | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (4)

- 2024-11-19: Left in Local Government (Senate)
- 2024-01-29: Continued to 2025 in Local Government (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2024-01-19: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2024-01-19: Presented and ordered printed 24103107D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-19: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB721)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB721)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB721-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).