# Virginia SB779: Eminent domain; condemnation proceedings, entry of order and recordation of certificate.

Virginia SB779, Eminent domain; condemnation proceedings, entry of order and recordation of certificate., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mark D. Obenshain (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0954)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB779-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB779
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Eminent domain; condemnation proceedings, entry of order and recordation of certificate.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0954)
- Sponsor: Mark D. Obenshain (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 10 (357 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Eminent domain; condemnation proceedings; entry of order and recordation of certificate; disbursement of funds by circuit court clerk. Provides that the clerk of a circuit court shall, upon entry of an order in a condemnation proceeding and unless otherwise directed, promptly disburse any just compensation in the amount specified in such order and any interest accrued. The bill provides that the clerk shall disburse such funds no later than seven business days after the entry of the order or the receipt of the sum that such order directs the clerk to disburse, whichever is later. The bill also provides that counsel in a condemnation action may request, and the clerk, sheriff, or other person responsible for notifying jurors to appear in court for a trial shall make available, a copy of the jury panel to be used for such trial. The bill also requires that on the same day the certificate is recorded in the land records, it shall also be filed with the clerk.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More restart help for displaced small businesses: benefit, high. State agencies must pay qualifying restart costs for farms, nonprofits, and small businesses displaced by agency property acquisitions. The law removes the former $25,000 cap on payments to reestablish them at a new site. Expenses must be actual, reasonable, and necessary to restart at that site. A…
- Faster payments and clearer property takings: benefit, low. For condemnation or inverse-condemnation cases, court clerks must pay court-ordered compensation plus accrued interest within seven business days. The clock starts after the later of the order’s entry or receipt of funds, unless the order says otherwise. For petitions filed or certificates recorded…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mark D. Obenshain (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 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 Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (35)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0954) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 954 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB779) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB779ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB779) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-20: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-02-20: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-02-20: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Blank Action (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (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 Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Presented and ordered printed 26105248D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224717.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224716.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198779.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198778.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149192.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149191.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145060.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142335.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094354.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094353.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/1224717.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224716.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198779.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198778.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149192.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149191.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145060.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142335.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094354.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094353.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB779-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).