Virginia Passenger Rail Authority; expands authority to exercise power of eminent domain.
Summary
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 25.1-108, 25.1-109, 28.2-628, 33.2-291, and 33.2-293 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Passenger Rail Authority; eminent domain.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Transportation Substitute
→
Engrossed
·
4 edits
·
Mar 13, 2026
MODERATE
This bill was amended to clarify that the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPR) is exempt from a specific rule requiring localities to return surplus condemned land to original owners. The amendment also adds the VPR to the list of entities authorized to acquire oyster bottoms and grounds. Additionally, the bill includes minor formatting updates to section headers and clarifies the applicability of certain provisions to the VPR.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding surplus property was narrowed by removing the VPR from the list of entities required to return surplus land to former owners, while explicitly adding the VPR to the list of entities allowed to condemn oyster bottoms.
ELIGIBILITY
Removed the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority from the list of entities that must return surplus condemned property to former owners, effectively exempting the VPR from this specific requirement.
SCOPE
Added the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to the list of entities authorized to condemn oyster bottoms and grounds for transportation projects.
TECHNICAL
Updated section headers and formatting to reflect the bill's progression from a substitute amendment to an engrossed version.
REQUIREMENT
Clarified that the surplus property return rule applies only to localities, not the VPR, and adjusted references to relevant code sections.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 3, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
14
Committee
9
Amendments
2
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 924 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB446ER)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (37-Y 3-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute and rereferred to Courts of Justice (12-Y 1-N 2-A)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (73-Y 24-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendments agreed to
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Transportation with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Assigned HTRAN sub: Transportation Infrastructure and Funding
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Marcus Simon
DDemocratic
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