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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 51

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

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 9, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 5, 2026
Senate		Adopt Governor's Recommendation RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 16, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 13, 2026
House		Reported from Counties, Cities and TownspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 27, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 26, 2026
Senate		Reported from Local Government with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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