HB 2458 Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Vehicles used for agricultural purposes; reflectors/reflectorized material on rear end of trailers.

Summary
Vehicles used for agricultural purposes. Provides that trailers and semitrailers used for certain agricultural purposes may be operated without tail lights or brake lights on the highways of the Commonwealth, except in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia), that are not interstate highways between sunrise and sunset, provided that such trailer or semitrailer has affixed to the rear end either (i) two or more reflectors of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police or (ii) at least 100 square inches of solid reflectorized material. The bill requires such a trailer or semitrailer operated without tail lights or brake lights to keep to the rightmost lane, except when turning at an intersection or avoiding any hazard. The bill also prohibits the operation of such a trailer or semitrailer operated without tail lights or brake lights whenever (a) certain conditions reducing visibility are present or (b) windshield wipers are in use as a result of fog, rain, sleet, or snow.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed May 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Transportation Substitute Chaptered · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill changes the rules for operating agricultural trailers without tail lights or brake lights in Virginia. Previously, such trailers could operate without lights anywhere in the state between sunrise and sunset. Now, this exemption is limited to specific Planning Districts and excludes interstate highways, with additional safety restrictions on visibility conditions.
Scope change
The geographic scope of the exemption was narrowed from statewide to specific Planning Districts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 23), and interstate highways are now explicitly excluded from the exemption.
REQUIREMENT

Added geographic restrictions limiting the no-tail-light exemption to specific Planning Districts only, removing statewide applicability.

Added requirement that trailers without tail lights must stay in the rightmost lane when operating on covered highways, except when turning or avoiding hazards.

Added visibility restrictions prohibiting operation when conditions reduce visibility below 500 feet or when windshield wipers are needed due to weather.

ELIGIBILITY

Explicitly excluded interstate highways from the exemption, meaning trailers must have proper tail lights and brake lights when traveling on interstate highways.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2025

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Feb 17, 2025
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
16
Committee
5
Amendments
7
May 2, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 718 (Effective 07/01/25)
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Vetoed
House rejected Governor's amendments #'s 2-7 (46-Y 50-N)
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Vetoed
House rejected Governor's amendment #1 (45-Y 51-N)
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by House
executive
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2458ER)
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Amendments agreed to by House (92-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (33-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senator Obenshain, Mark D. Amendments agreed to
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Amended
Senator Roem, Danica A. Amendments rejected
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Amended
Transportation Amendment rejected
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Transportation with amendment (13-Y 0-N 2-A)
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (99-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Assigned Trans sub: Department of Motor Vehicles
lower
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors