VA SB 12
Status unknownIssuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did VA SB 12 pass?
The current status of VA SB 12 is not known from the official record. Latest recorded action (2026-01-26): Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)
What is VA SB 12 about?
Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.
Who sponsors VA SB 12?
Bill DeSteph is the primary sponsor of VA SB 12, joined by 1 cosponsor.
Description
Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.
- Introduced
- 2025-11-17
- Latest action
- 2026-01-26 — Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Bill DeStephprimary
- William M. Stanley, Jr.cosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-01-26
Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)
deferral
2026-01-26
Senate committee offered
2026-01-25
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB12)
2025-12-05
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (12/5/2025 4:04 pm)
2025-11-17
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
referral-committee
2025-11-17
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100650D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice
2026-01-26 · pass · 9-5
Member-level votes (15)
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: no
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: not voting
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Mark J. Peake: no
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
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:
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