SB 51 VA

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Became Law

Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts. Requires every locality with a population of 400,000 or greater to elect the members of its governing body by individual single-member districts. The bill provides that a governing body's presiding officer may be elected at large. The bill further provides that any such governing body that does not already meet the requirements of the bill shall establish the required districts and shall reapportion the representation in the governing body in accordance with general law. Finally, the bill provides that for any such governing body that, prior to 2026, adopted an ordinance with a map to elect its members by individual single-member districts, such ordinance shall become effective upon the effective date of this act. This bill is identical to HB 168 and contains an emergency clause.

• Aaron R. Rouse Democratic · primary

1. Nov 24, 2025 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100881D · upper
2. Nov 24, 2025 Referred to Committee on Local Government · upper
3. Jan 26, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
4. Jan 26, 2026 Reported from Local Government with substitute (14-Y 0-N) · upper
5. Jan 26, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26106179D-S1 · upper
6. Jan 27, 2026 Read first time · upper
7. Jan 27, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
8. Jan 27, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
9. Jan 27, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
10. Jan 27, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
11. Jan 28, 2026 Read second time · upper
12. Jan 28, 2026 Local Government Substitute agreed to · upper
13. Jan 28, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
14. Jan 28, 2026 Committee substitute agreed to · upper
15. Jan 29, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A) · upper
16. Jan 30, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB51) · upper
17. Feb 4, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
18. Feb 4, 2026 Read first time · lower
19. Feb 4, 2026 Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns · lower
20. Feb 13, 2026 Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (16-Y 5-N) · lower
21. Feb 15, 2026 Read second time · lower
22. Feb 16, 2026 Read third time · lower
23. Feb 16, 2026 Passed House (72-Y 26-N 0-A) · lower
24. Feb 18, 2026 Enrolled · upper
25. Feb 18, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB51ER) · upper
26. Feb 18, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
27. Feb 18, 2026 Signed by President · upper
28. Feb 25, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB51) · upper
29. Feb 26, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 26, 2026 · upper
30. Feb 26, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 05, 2026 · executive
31. Mar 4, 2026 Governor's recommendation received by Senate · executive
32. Mar 5, 2026 Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (20-Y 19-N 0-A) · upper
33. Mar 9, 2026 House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 29-N 0-A) · lower
34. Mar 9, 2026 Governor's recommendation adopted · executive
35. Mar 9, 2026 Reenrolled · upper
36. Mar 9, 2026 Reenrolled bill text (SB51ER2) · upper
37. Mar 9, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
38. Mar 9, 2026 Signed by President · upper
39. Mar 9, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 8 (Effective 3/9/2026) · executive
40. Mar 9, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0008) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Reenrolled · PDF
• Reenrolled · HTML
• Governor's Recommendation · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Local Government Substitute · PDF
• Local Government Substitute · HTML
• Local Government Substitute · PDF
• Local Government Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML