# Virginia SB997: Local officers; oath of office.

Virginia SB997, Local officers; oath of office., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0424)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB997-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB997
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Local officers; oath of office.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0424)
- Sponsor: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (215 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Local officers; oath of office. Provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any local government charter, or any other provision of law, every elected county, city, town and district officer, on or before the day on which his term of office begins, shall qualify by taking the oath prescribed by general law. Current law allows a local government charter to prescribe a different procedure for taking the oath. This bill is identical to HB 2628.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-12 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-07 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-16 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-14 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-13 | Senate | Reported from Local Government | pass | 13 | 0 |   |

## Actions (25)

- 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0424) (Governor)
- 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 424 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-02-20: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-02-20: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 20, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB997ER) (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-12: Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-12: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-11: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-07: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-06: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Assigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-05: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-16: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Read second time and engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (37-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Reported from Local Government (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103028D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074321.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074320.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049697.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049696.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014752.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014751.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074321.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074320.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049697.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049696.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014752.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014751.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB997-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).