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Bill > HB505


VA HB505

VA HB505
Counties, cities, & towns; members of governing body, continuing personal interest in transactions.


summary

Introduced
01/12/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
03/13/2026
Passed
04/22/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/22/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Local government; certain towns; suspension of officers, study, remedial plan, and meeting requirements. Provides that any member of a governing body in any locality, who has been employed by any governmental agency that is a component part of and that is subject to the ultimate control of the governing body of which he is a member, is deemed to have continuing personal interest in that agency for a period of two years following the termination of such employment. The bill also requires the court, in a criminal proceeding against an officer of any town in Planning District 8 with a population between 8,000 and 10,000 alleging the commission of a felony offense, to enter an order suspending the officer pending the resolution of such proceeding and any related proceeding for the officer's removal. The bill requires any such town to also procure a study by a public institution of higher education to evaluate the condition and status of the town's debt, infrastructure, utilities, and other significant liability risks. Such town is required to adopt a plan consistent with the study to address such town's needs, as identified in the study, in a fiscally appropriate manner that does not jeopardize the town's bond rating. The bill also prohibits the town council of any such town from voting on matters that have not been properly published at least three days prior to the vote as part of a town council agenda or otherwise approved as additional agenda items or as amendments to existing agenda items by a three-fourths vote of all the members of the council at the start of the meeting. The bill requires that any full-time town manager of such town must be a resident of the Commonwealth unless the town council has waived such requirement by a majority vote. This bill is identical to SB 648.

AI Summary

This bill addresses conflicts of interest and governance for local government officials, particularly in certain towns. It establishes that any local government official who was previously employed by a governmental agency that they now oversee will be considered to have a continuing personal interest in that agency for two years after their employment ends, as defined by state law regarding conflicts of interest. For towns in Planning District 8 with populations between 8,000 and 10,000, the bill mandates that if an officer faces felony charges, they must be suspended by the court until the proceedings are resolved, and the court can appoint someone to fill their role during the suspension. These towns are also required to commission a study by a public university to assess their financial health, infrastructure, and liabilities, and then develop a plan to address identified needs without jeopardizing their bond rating. Furthermore, these town councils are restricted from voting on matters not published on their agenda at least three days prior, unless approved by a three-fourths vote, and any resident can challenge votes that violate this rule. Finally, full-time town managers in these specific towns must reside in Virginia unless the town council waives this requirement.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1056) (on 04/22/2026)

bill text


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