Transportation

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1224: Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21.

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 396.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends learner permit period to enhance driver safety, aligning with transportation safety standards for new drivers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1145: Motor vehicle safety inspections; certified safety inspectors.

HB 1145 changes the required frequency for motor vehicle safety inspections, extending the interval from every 12 months to every 24 months. This directly affects all vehicle owners in the state who are currently required to undergo annual safety inspections. The key provision replaces the annual inspection requirement with a biennial (every two years) schedule. The bill does not alter the inspection standards or costs, only the timing between required checks. This change would reduce the number of inspections vehicle owners must complete each year.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReduces safety inspection frequency from annual to biennial, weakening regulatory oversight for vehicle safety.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 396: Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21.

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends learner's permit duration for new drivers (18-21), enhancing safety standards through longer practice period before driving test.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 321: Abandonment of highway; section of the secondary state highway system, local authority.

Abandonment of highway; section of the secondary state highway system; local authority. Removes the requirement that a section of the secondary state highway system be in a residence district for a county to find that such section is no longer necessary for the purpose of abandoning such section of highway as a public highway.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill removes requirement for highway abandonment, facilitating removal of transportation infrastructure, weakening highway system maintenance and access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Transportation

in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 833: Open containers; prohibition on consumption and possession in the passenger area of motor vehicles.

This bill prohibits consuming or possessing open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of any motor vehicle. It directly affects drivers and passengers who might have open alcohol containers in the car's passenger space. The law would require such containers to be stored outside the passenger area (e.g., in the trunk) to prevent in-vehicle alcohol use.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProhibits open alcohol containers in vehicle passenger areas to enhance road safety, directly aligning with transportation safety standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

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passed · Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 306: Traffic light signals and traffic control device monitoring systems; locality to report to VSP member of traffic violations, etc.,report.

Use of violation monitoring systems to enforce traffic light signals and certain traffic control devices; repeal. Repeals the authority of localities to use traffic light signal violation monitoring systems, colloquially known as red light cameras, and traffic control device violation monitoring systems to enforce certain traffic offenses, including traffic light signal violations.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRepeals red light camera enforcement, eliminating a traffic safety tool that enforces traffic signal violations, thus restricting transportation safety mechanisms.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Transportation

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 262: Tort claims against the Commonwealth; liability for dangerous condition on public roadway.

Tort claims against the Commonwealth; liability for dangerous condition on public roadway. Provides that the Commonwealth or a transportation district of the Commonwealth shall be liable for injury or death caused by a dangerous condition on a public roadway that the Commonwealth or transportation district had knowledge of and negligently or wrongfully failed to remedy or maintain. Current law immunizes the Commonwealth or a transportation district against such liability.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill removes immunity for dangerous road conditions, requiring maintenance and liability for injuries - enhancing transportation safety standards for public roadways.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

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failed · Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 663: Emergency vehicles; exempt from certain traffic regulations.

Emergency vehicles; exempt from certain traffic regulations. Authorizes a law-enforcement vehicle, defined in current law, operated by or under the direction of a federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer to disregard parking and stopping provisions and expands the situations in which such vehicles may disregard speed limits to include when establishing evidence of other violations of law and when responding to an emergency in which emergency lights and siren may pose a safety risk.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes emergency vehicles to bypass traffic rules during emergencies, enhancing response safety and aligning with transportation safety goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

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