All Roll Calls
Yes: 206 • No: 7
Sponsored By: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)
Became Law
Charter; City of Norfolk. Amends the charter for the City of Norfolk to require, on any property where there is a substantial negative impact on public health, safety, and welfare, conformity with the city's zoning ordinance within a reasonable time, to be specified by ordinance, but never less than two years. This bill is identical to HB 1477.
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16 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 8 mixed.
The city provides care and support for children, the sick, the aged, the mentally ill, and poor persons. Local services can help reduce care costs for eligible residents.
The city runs public schools and libraries under state education standards. This shapes local K–12 education and library services for families and students.
The city can build and maintain public buildings and safety facilities and can use eminent domain to get needed land. It can charge special assessments on affected properties to help pay for local improvements, within state constitutional limits.
If a nonconforming property harms public health, safety, or welfare, the city can require you to bring it into zoning compliance. The timeline comes by ordinance but is never less than two years. The city can set building setback lines after at least 10 days’ public notice and a hearing; permits are blocked in the affected strip unless the city buys or starts condemnation within 60 days for objecting owners. You may request voluntary design review; the review fee is capped at the actual cost or $200, whichever is less.
The city council raises local taxes and assessments each year for city needs. City bonds are not taxed. The city can borrow money and issue debt under the Virginia Constitution and its charter. The city can spend funds for any lawful purpose.
The city can own or run local utilities and water systems. It can buy up to 30,000 acres in Virginia for water supply and protect watershed lands. The city sets and enforces water and utility rates that appear on your bill. The city can also grant utility franchises under state and charter rules.
The city runs or contracts trash and sewage collection and can charge fees. It can order cleanup of nuisances and, if you do not comply, do the work and bill the owner or occupant. The city sets health rules, inspects and condemns unsafe food, and can set quarantine areas to stop disease spread.
The city can prevent and fight fires and require safe building materials and construction methods. It can remove dangerous or illegal structures and set fire limits. With a four‑fifths council vote, certain waterfront sheds are allowed if covered in fireproof material.
The city exercises full police powers and runs a police department. It can make and enforce local laws, set suitable penalties, and sue to stop violations. It also holds broad authority to act for general welfare, health, safety, education, peace, and commerce.
The city can stop people without visible means of support or seen as dangerous from entering. Carriers that bring such persons must return them or post a bond that they will not become a city charge within one year. The city can remove such a person who has been in the city less than 90 days.
The city manages streets and traffic, including opening, widening, lighting, and cleaning roads. It sets speed and driving rules. Utilities can be required to place wires and cables in underground conduits. The city can also build or help maintain roads and bridges outside the city to improve travel.
The city can buy, hold, improve, sell, or lease property. It can assemble up to 5,000 acres to support commerce and manufacturing and then sell or lease that land for business uses.
The city can acquire land inside or outside the city for cemeteries. It can set rules to protect and use burial grounds and regulate burial and disposition of the dead.
The city inspects and tests scales, meters, and measures. This helps shoppers get the right amount. Businesses must follow the rules and may face inspections to make sure measurements are accurate.
The city can run wharves and docks, dredge harbors, and regulate use. It can charge reasonable wharfage fees to vessels that use these facilities.
The city can provide and maintain charitable, recreational, curative, corrective, detentive, or penal institutions. This supports social services and correctional functions as needed.
Angelia Williams Graves
Democratic • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 206 • No: 7
House vote • 2/16/2026
Passed House
Yes: 92 • No: 6
House vote • 2/13/2026
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns
Yes: 20 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/5/2026
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/3/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/3/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/2/2026
Reported from Local Government
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0317)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 317 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB806ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)
Read third time
Read second time
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (20-Y 1-N)
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
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) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day
Rules suspended
Reported from Local Government (15-Y 0-N)
Unanimous consent to introduce
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Chaptered
4/6/2026
Enrolled
2/18/2026
Introduced
1/23/2026
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.
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.
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.