Transportation

in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1417: Bicycle riders; traffic control device exceptions, liability.

Bicycle riders; traffic control device exceptions; liability. Authorizes a bicycle rider to proceed through an intersection controlled by a stop sign, "Yield Right-of-Way" sign, or red light if such rider (i) is at least 16 years of age or is accompanied by a person who is at least 16 years of age who is also riding a bicycle and who precedes him through such intersection with no more than 10 feet of distance separating the bicycles and (ii) yields the right-of-way to the driver of any vehicle lawfully within such intersection or approaching or entering such intersection from another direction. The bill provides that proceeding through such an intersection without yielding as required by the bill constitutes negligence per se if such action is the proximate cause of a collision or vehicular accident.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllows cyclists to proceed through stop signs/red lights under safety conditions, enhancing bicycle safety and road usability for non-motorized transport.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian Safety Traffic Safety

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in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 571: Central Virginia Transportation Fund; distribution of funds to Bay Transit.

Central Virginia Transportation Fund; distribution of funds; Bay Transit. Distributes two percent of certain funds from the Central Virginia Transportation Fund to Bay Transit of New Kent and Charles City (Bay Transit) and reduces from 15 to 13 percent the amount of such funds distributed to the Greater Richmond Transit Company. The bill prohibits the distribution of funds to Bay Transit unless the Central Virginia Transportation Authority first enters into an agreement with Bay Transit for the distribution of such funds. The bill also provides that, for any year in which no such agreement exists, such funds be distributed to the Greater Richmond Transit Company.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates transportation funds to Bay Transit and adjusts distribution percentages between transit providers, directly funding public transit services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Transportation Funding

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passed · Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 717: Transit-oriented housing overlay districts; definitions, ordinances, report, sunset.

Transit-oriented housing overlay districts. Requires certain localities to establish one or more transit-oriented housing overlay districts covering qualifying areas, as defined in the bill, within their boundaries. The bill provides that within such overlay districts, the locality shall permit, by right, a minimum height of six stories and a minimum average density of 30 units per acre within one-quarter of a mile of a major transit stop and allow two units per lot and four units per corner lot between one-quarter of a mile and one mile from a such a stop. The bill further provides that applications for such housing development shall be approved ministerially by the zoning administrator or other designated official and that no public hearing is required for approval. The bill allows certain areas within a locality to be excluded from its provisions and sunsets on September 1, 2030. The bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates localities to permit up to 10 dwelling units per lot in transit districts, overriding single-family zoning restrictions to increase housing density and development.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates transit-oriented housing districts to increase density near transit, directly promoting public transit usage and sustainable transportation access per TOD principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Zoning

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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

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in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1032: Rest areas and welcome centers; Department of Transportation to provide adult changing stations.

Department of Transportation; rest areas and welcome centers; adult changing stations. Requires the Department of Transportation to provide at least one adult changing station at all rest areas on interstate highways and welcome centers operated by the Virginia Tourism Authority in the Commonwealth, with such changing station being either (i) in a single-stall family restroom or (ii) one adult changing station in both the men's and women's restrooms, and provides that such requirement may be satisfied by retrofitting or renovating existing restroom facilities or family restrooms. The bill provides that the Department of Transportation is not required to complete the installation, retrofitting, or provision of such an adult changing station at existing rest areas and welcome centers prior to such a time at which other renovations to such a rest area or welcome center are conducted.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates accessible infrastructure improvements in highway rest areas, enhancing transportation facility usability for travelers with disabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 324: Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund; established and created.

Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund created. Creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations (i) in certain localities; (ii) on eligible public land, as defined in the bill; or (iii) within one mile of the boundary of eligible public land. The bill provides that a private developer may apply for a grant in an amount equal to 70 percent of the private developer's non-utility costs for the installation of such public electric vehicle charging stations. The awarding of a grant under the Program is conditional upon an agreement with the applicant that any cost of a project not funded by a grant awarded by the Program be funded by non-federal funds. The bill directs the Department of Energy to establish guidelines for the administration of the Program, including guidelines related to the application for and award of grants. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2031.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill creates fund to install EV charging stations, directly investing in clean energy infrastructure to advance electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy infrastructure expansion.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates fund for EV charging infrastructure grants, advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure through public-private partnerships for rural areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Tags Rural Communities

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signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 437: Truck-mounted attenuators; certain vehicles equipped with amber and green warning lights.

Green warning lights, snow plows and vehicles equipped with truck-mounted attenuators. Authorizes snow plows used for clearing or removing snow on or along public highways and vehicles equipped with a truck-mounted attenuator that are used in constructing, maintaining, and repairing highways or utilities on or along public highways to be equipped with and use either (i) flashing, blinking, or alternating amber warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent of State Police or (ii) alternating amber and green warning lights of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police. The bill requires that warning lights be lit only when performing the functions that qualify them to be equipped with such lights and that if a vehicle is equipped with multiple warning lights that are alternating amber and green warning lights, such lights shall be used synchronously with each other.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates green warning lights with amber for highway work zones, enhancing safety during infrastructure maintenance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 302: ATVs and off-road motorcycles; operation in the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority.

All-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles; operation in the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority. Expands the authorized operation of all-terrain vehicles to include (i) operation on highways in all localities embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority, in addition to Buchanan County and Tazewell County, which are already authorized under current law, provided that certain conditions are met, and (ii) operation on public highways or other public property by employees of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority conducting official business. The bill also authorizes any locality embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority to provide for the lawful seizure, impounding, and disposition of an unlawfully operated all-terrain vehicle or off-road motorcycle operated on a highway or sidewalk within the boundaries of such locality.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExpands ATV operation on highways within regional authority, advancing vehicle regulation access under transportation policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways

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signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 564: Bus obstruction monitoring systems; parking, stopping, and standing enforcement.

Parking, stopping, and standing enforcement; bus obstruction monitoring systems. Allows localities to authorize the use of bus obstruction monitoring systems by a public transit agency operating within the locality for the purpose of enforcing local ordinances related to parking, stopping, or standing in bus stop zones or in lanes reserved for transit buses during posted times. This bill is identical to SB 583.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables enforcement of bus stop zone regulations, improving transit efficiency and safety by preventing obstructions in transit lanes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pedestrian Safety Public Transit Traffic Safety

passed · Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 150: School bus video-monitoring systems; enforcement of violations, sworn or affirmed certificates.

School bus video-monitoring systems; enforcement; sworn or affirmed certificates. Authorizes, for enforcement of violations related to passing a stopped school bus via video-monitoring system, the use of a certificate, or a facsimile thereof, sworn to or affirmed by a law-enforcement officer or a retired sworn law-enforcement officer, as defined in the bill, based on recorded images produced by the video-monitoring system as prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances school bus safety enforcement using video evidence, directly advancing transportation safety standards for vehicle regulations.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Traffic Safety

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