SB 44 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Cemeteries on private property; registration by localities.

Summary

Registration by localities of cemeteries on private property. Clarifies that the requirement for the governing body of a locality to publish on its website notice of the public sale of any publicly owned property that contains a known cemetery, graveyard, or other place of burial does not meet the requirement in current law for a newspaper publication of such notice. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Nov 22, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was finalized and assigned Chapter 479 for the 2026 session, with an effective date of July 1, 2027. The substantive text regarding cemetery registration and public notice requirements remains unchanged, though minor formatting adjustments were made to the section headers and spacing.

TIMELINE

Added a new provision stating that the act becomes effective on July 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

Added the official chapter number (Chapter 479) and approval date (April 8, 2026).

Adjusted formatting and spacing in the title and section headers to match the final enrolled format.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Jan 20, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter479 (Effective 7/1/2027)

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB44ER)

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (73-Y 23-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

House requested conference committee

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

House insisted on amendments

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Amended

Counties, Cities and Towns Amendment rejected by Senate

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with amendment (78-Y 20-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendment agreed to

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (19-Y 2-N)

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 9-N 0-A)

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Local Government (13-Y 1-N)

upper

Nov 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Local Government

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors