Bill Commons

VA HB 657

enacted

Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 657 pass?

Yes. VA HB 657 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-06): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0194)

What is VA HB 657 about?

Charter; Town of Louisa. Establishes a new charter for the Town of Louisa in Louisa County and repeals the current charter, which was created in 1972. The new charter sets out the organization of the town's government and contains powers typically granted to towns. This bill is identical to SB 462.

Who sponsors VA HB 657?

Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. is the primary sponsor of VA HB 657, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

Charter; Town of Louisa. Establishes a new charter for the Town of Louisa in Louisa County and repeals the current charter, which was created in 1972. The new charter sets out the organization of the town's government and contains powers typically granted to towns. This bill is identical to SB 462.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Latest action
2026-04-06 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0194)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.primary
  • Luther Cifers, IIIcosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-06

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0194)

  2. 2026-04-06

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 194 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-10

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

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-10

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  5. 2026-03-02

    Signed by President

    passage

  6. 2026-03-02

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  7. 2026-03-02

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB657ER)

    passage

  8. 2026-03-02

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  9. 2026-02-25

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

    passage

  10. 2026-02-25

    Read third time

    reading-3

  11. 2026-02-24

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  12. 2026-02-24

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

  13. 2026-02-24

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-02-23

    Reported from Local Government (15-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  15. 2026-02-02

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-02-02

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. 2026-01-30

    Read third time and passed House (93-Y 1-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  18. 2026-01-29

    Read second time and engrossed

    reading-2

  19. 2026-01-29

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  20. 2026-01-28

    Passed by for the day

  21. 2026-01-27

    Read first time

    reading-1

  22. 2026-01-23

    Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (20-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  23. 2026-01-23

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)

  24. 2026-01-20

    Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #1

    referral-committee

  25. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

    referral-committee

  26. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104120D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting

    2026-01-23 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (6)
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marty Martinez: not voting
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
  • Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

    2026-01-23 · pass · 20-0

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Marty Martinez: not voting
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
  • H VOTE:

    2026-01-30 · pass · 93-1

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: not voting
    • 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: no
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • 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.: not voting
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: not voting
    • 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: not voting
    • 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: not voting
    • 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: yes
  • Reported from Local Government

    2026-02-23 · pass · 15-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-02-24 · 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: 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: not voting
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • Passage R

    2026-02-25 · 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

Attribution

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

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 657. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.