Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB 1237
Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards, owner unknown.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Briana D. Sewell (Democratic)
Cosponsors (5)
- Jackie H. Glass (Democratic)
- Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic)
- Luke E. Torian (Democratic)
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado
- Gretchen M. Bulova
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
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.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 12:24 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 6, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 29, 2026 House | Reported from General Laws | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 27, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 6, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278) - Apr 6, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 278 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 25, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 25, 2026 · House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 - Mar 16, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1237) - Mar 14, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1237ER) - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Enrolled - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Read third time - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A) - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 3, 2026 · House
Read second time and engrossed - Feb 3, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1237) - Feb 2, 2026 · House
Read first time - Jan 29, 2026 · House
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N) - Jan 27, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N) - Jan 26, 2026 · House
Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming - Jan 14, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on General Laws - Jan 14, 2026 · House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102487D