Bill Commons

VA SB 51

enacted

Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper

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Quick answers

Did VA SB 51 pass?

Yes. VA SB 51 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-03-09): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0008)

What is VA SB 51 about?

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.

Who sponsors VA SB 51?

Aaron R. Rouse is the primary sponsor of VA SB 51.

Description

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.

Introduced
2025-11-24
Latest action
2026-03-09 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0008)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Aaron R. Rouseprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-03-09

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0008)

  2. 2026-03-09

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 8 (Effective 3/9/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-09

    Signed by President

    passage

  4. 2026-03-09

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  5. 2026-03-09

    Reenrolled bill text (SB51ER2)

    enrolled

  6. 2026-03-09

    Reenrolled

    enrolled

  7. 2026-03-09

    Governor's recommendation adopted

    executive-signature

  8. 2026-03-09

    House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 29-N 0-A)

  9. 2026-03-05

    Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

  10. 2026-03-04

    Governor's recommendation received by Senate

    executive-veto-line-item

  11. 2026-02-26

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 05, 2026

    executive-receipt

  12. 2026-02-26

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 26, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  13. 2026-02-25

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB51)

  14. 2026-02-18

    Signed by President

    passage

  15. 2026-02-18

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  16. 2026-02-18

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB51ER)

    passage

  17. 2026-02-18

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  18. 2026-02-16

    Passed House (72-Y 26-N 0-A)

    passage

  19. 2026-02-16

    Read third time

    reading-3

  20. 2026-02-15

    Read second time

    reading-2

  21. 2026-02-13

    Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (16-Y 5-N)

    committee-passage

  22. 2026-02-04

    Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

    referral-committee

  23. 2026-02-04

    Read first time

    reading-1

  24. 2026-02-04

    Placed on Calendar

  25. 2026-01-30

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB51)

  26. 2026-01-29

    Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  27. 2026-01-28

    Committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  28. 2026-01-28

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    substitution

  29. 2026-01-28

    Local Government Substitute agreed to

  30. 2026-01-28

    Read second time

    reading-2

  31. 2026-01-27

    Passed by for the day

  32. 2026-01-27

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  33. 2026-01-27

    Rules suspended

  34. 2026-01-27

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  35. 2026-01-27

    Read first time

    reading-1

  36. 2026-01-26

    Committee substitute printed 26106179D-S1

    substitution

  37. 2026-01-26

    Reported from Local Government with substitute (14-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  38. 2026-01-26

    Senate committee offered

  39. 2025-11-24

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

    referral-committee

  40. 2025-11-24

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100881D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from Local Government with substitute

    2026-01-26 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: not voting
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed R

    2026-01-27 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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

    2026-01-29 · pass · 26-14

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

    2026-02-13 · pass · 16-5

    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: yes
    • 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: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-16 · pass · 72-26

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • 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: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • 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: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • 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: no
    • 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: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • 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: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • 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: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Adopt Governor's Recommendation R

    2026-03-05 · pass · 20-19

    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: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: not voting
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-09 · pass · 67-29

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • 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: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • 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.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • 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: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: not voting
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • 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: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • 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: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • 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: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: not voting
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB51

Attribution

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

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