# Virginia SB947: Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence.

Virginia SB947, Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bill DeSteph (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-31 (Racial and ethnic impact statement from JLARC (SB947)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB947-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB947
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-01-31, Racial and ethnic impact statement from JLARC (SB947)
- Sponsor: Bill DeSteph (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (23 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bill DeSteph (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-27 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice | pass | 8 | 6 |   |
| 2025-01-16 | Senate | Rereferred from Transportation to Courts of Justice | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2025-01-31: Racial and ethnic impact statement from JLARC (SB947) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Impact statement from VCSC (SB947) (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Rereferred from Transportation to Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103468D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029742.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029741.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013829.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013828.PDF)

## 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
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029742.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029741.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013829.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013828.PDF)

## 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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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB947-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).