Bill Commons

VA HB 1237

enacted

Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards, owner unknown.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 1237 pass?

Yes. VA HB 1237 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-06): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278)

What is VA HB 1237 about?

Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards; owner unknown. Permits the owner of adjacent land or an incorporated nonprofit entity to petition the circuit court for an exclusive license to maintain a graveyard that has been abandoned, is unused and neglected by the owner, and the owner of such graveyard is unknown, or cannot with reasonable diligence be found. The bill requires the petitioner to (i) demonstrate a good faith effort to identify and contact an owner of record of the graveyard and (ii) publish in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality in which the graveyard is located, once a week for two consecutive weeks, notice that a petition for a maintenance license has been filed. The bill allows a court to grant a petitioner an exclusive license for the maintenance of an abandoned graveyard not to exceed five years. Such petitioner may, by petition of the court, renew such license indefinitely. After the court grants a petitioner a license to maintain the property, the owner of such graveyard may petition the circuit court of the county or city in which the graveyard is located to terminate the license.

Who sponsors VA HB 1237?

Briana D. Sewell is the primary sponsor of VA HB 1237, joined by 5 cosponsors.

Description

Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards; owner unknown. Permits the owner of adjacent land or an incorporated nonprofit entity to petition the circuit court for an exclusive license to maintain a graveyard that has been abandoned, is unused and neglected by the owner, and the owner of such graveyard is unknown, or cannot with reasonable diligence be found. The bill requires the petitioner to (i) demonstrate a good faith effort to identify and contact an owner of record of the graveyard and (ii) publish in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality in which the graveyard is located, once a week for two consecutive weeks, notice that a petition for a maintenance license has been filed. The bill allows a court to grant a petitioner an exclusive license for the maintenance of an abandoned graveyard not to exceed five years. Such petitioner may, by petition of the court, renew such license indefinitely. After the court grants a petitioner a license to maintain the property, the owner of such graveyard may petition the circuit court of the county or city in which the graveyard is located to terminate the license.

Introduced
2026-01-14
Latest action
2026-04-06 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Briana D. Sewellprimary
  • Jackie H. Glasscosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Luke E. Toriancosponsor
  • Michelle Lopes Maldonadocosponsor
  • Gretchen M. Bulovacosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-06

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278)

  2. 2026-04-06

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 278 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-25

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-25

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  5. 2026-03-16

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1237)

  6. 2026-03-14

    Signed by President

    passage

  7. 2026-03-14

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  8. 2026-03-14

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1237ER)

    passage

  9. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  10. 2026-03-09

    Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  11. 2026-03-09

    Read third time

    reading-3

  12. 2026-03-06

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  13. 2026-03-06

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-06

    Rules suspended

  15. 2026-03-04

    Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  16. 2026-02-05

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    referral-committee

  17. 2026-02-05

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. 2026-02-04

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  19. 2026-02-04

    Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

  20. 2026-02-04

    Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  21. 2026-02-03

    Read second time and engrossed

    reading-2

  22. 2026-02-03

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1237)

  23. 2026-02-02

    Read first time

    reading-1

  24. 2026-01-29

    Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  25. 2026-01-27

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

  26. 2026-01-26

    Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming

    referral-committee

  27. 2026-01-14

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

    referral-committee

  28. 2026-01-14

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102487D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting

    2026-01-27 · pass · 9-0

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes

  • Reported from General Laws

    2026-01-29 · pass · 21-0

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-04 · pass · 97-1

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: not voting
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from General Laws and Technology

    2026-03-04 · pass · 15-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-06 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: not voting
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-09 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1237

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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