Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 12
Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Bill DeSteph (Republican)
Cosponsors (1)
- William M. Stanley, Jr. (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED
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.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Jan 26, 2026 · Senate
Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N) - Jan 26, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Jan 25, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB12) - Dec 5, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (12/5/2025 4:04 pm) - Nov 17, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Nov 17, 2025 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100650D