SB 716 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with U.S. Department of Transportation.

Summary
Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation; National Environmental Policy Act. Authorizes the Commissioner of Highways to enter into agreements for a term of five years with the U.S. Department of Transportation, as provided for in federal law, regarding state assumption of responsibility for categorical exclusions and the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program. The bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume certain responsibilities of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation pursuant to such agreement. Under the bill, the Commonwealth waives its immunity from civil suit in a federal court under certain circumstances. The bill contains an expiration date of five years after the date on which the first agreement is entered into. This bill is identical to HB 411.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was finalized and formatted for publication as a chapter of the Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive legal text regarding the Commissioner of Highways' ability to enter agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation remains unchanged, preserving the authority to assume federal responsibilities for five years and the related waiver of state immunity.
TECHNICAL

The document structure was updated from an 'Enrolled' draft to a 'Chaptered' final version, adding official chapter numbers, approval dates, and standard formatting headers required for publication.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 11, 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
27
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 134 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB716ER)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 0-N 3-A)
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26101552D
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors