VirginiaSB892026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Powers of service districts; control of invasive plant species.

Sponsored By: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Powers of service districts; control of invasive plant species. Allows a service district created within a locality to control the spread of any plant that is identified on the list of invasive plant species established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This bill is identical to HB 388.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Last-mile broadband in unserved areas

Localities can hire private broadband companies to build last‑mile Internet in project areas where less than 10% of homes and businesses can get service. Broadband means speeds greater than 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. The state housing and community development agency may change the percentage or speed rules for its program.

Broader powers for local service districts

Local service districts can build and run many services, including water, sewer, trash, economic development, landscaping, and control of invasive plants. They can buy land or easements, hire staff, and contract with companies or state and local agencies, but cannot pledge general tax revenues or the locality’s full faith and credit. They can accept money from private donors, other localities, and state or federal agencies to help pay for projects. They can connect their systems to other systems and create a development board to manage funds and operations. Services cannot be for the sole or dominant benefit of a private party. If VDOT will run a facility, the locality must involve VDOT and meet its rules.

Transportation projects and saved road taxes

Localities can run transportation services in a service district, including buses, road building, repairs, and sound walls. If the Virginia Department of Transportation will operate or maintain a facility, the locality must involve the Department and meet its rules. Money from a road‑construction tax can be saved for future projects. Each year, the locality must make a public statement showing how much was set aside.

Wallops Research Park partnership

In Accomack County, the county can build and run infrastructure and services at Wallops Research Park to support aerospace‑related development and access to the NASA/Wallops runway. The county may form a Wallops Research Park Partnership with NASA, the U.S. Navy center, local schools and agencies, and the state’s economic development office. The Partnership has the powers given to service districts, and federal appointees must keep their loyalty to the U.S. government. All actions must follow federal, state, and local laws.

Mandatory hookups to district utilities

If your property is inside a service district, the locality can require you or your tenant to connect to district systems like water or sewer. You can appeal the order to the circuit court within 10 days. The locality may make contracts with owners or tenants for the connection work.

Property and room taxes inside districts

Localities may charge an annual property tax inside a service district to pay for district services. The tax can be applied only to property classes the locality says benefit, and all money must stay in that district. The tax cannot pay for schools, police, or other general government services not allowed by the law. A locality may base the tax on full assessed value, even if a special use assessment applies, but only with the owner’s written consent. In Virginia Beach, the council may add up to a 5% tax on base transient room rentals (not hotels, motels, or travel campgrounds) to fund beach and shoreline work.

Front Royal rat and skunk control

In the Town of Front Royal, the town can run programs to control rats and remove skunks and the conditions that attract them. The town may build, maintain, and operate the needed facilities and equipment.

Tools to preserve local open space

Localities can buy land or long‑term rights (at least five years) to keep land as open space. They can get these rights by purchase, gift, or other voluntary transfers. They may not use eminent domain to take open‑space interests.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Saddam Azlan Salim

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 204 • No: 8

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House

Yes: 92 • No: 6

House vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Yes: 20 • No: 2

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/20/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0130)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 130 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB89ER)

    3/5/2026Senate
  6. Enrolled

    3/5/2026Senate
  7. Signed by President

    3/5/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    3/5/2026House
  9. Passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  10. Read third time

    3/2/2026House
  11. Read second time

    2/27/2026House
  12. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (20-Y 2-N)

    2/25/2026House
  13. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    2/3/2026House
  14. Read first time

    2/3/2026House
  15. Placed on Calendar

    2/3/2026House
  16. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/26/2026Senate
  17. Passed Senate

    1/26/2026Senate
  18. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/23/2026Senate
  19. Read second time

    1/23/2026Senate
  20. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/22/2026Senate
  21. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/22/2026Senate
  22. Read first time

    1/22/2026Senate
  23. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)

    1/20/2026Senate
  24. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    12/30/2025Senate
  25. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100783D

    12/30/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation