This was our action alert for the week of January 20-24, 2025.  See our alert for the week of January 27-31.

Last week was the first full week of the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session. This is a “short” session, which generally lasts for 45 calendar days, as opposed to a “long” session, which lasts 60 calendar days.  Bills must pass their respective committee and chamber by Crossover (February 4) to remain viable. Here are key initiatives led or supported by the Virginia Bicycling Federation. Please contact your legislators as indicated below.

Senator Roem’s SJ260 seeks to assess the maintenance of Virginia’s active transportation infrastructure (view our SJ260 talking points).  It would direct a comprehensive study to examine VDOT policies and funding allocations for the maintenance of highways, bridges, sidewalks, bicycle paths and lanes, shared-use paths, and other surface transportation infrastructure. Status:  SJ260 was Passed By Indefinitely (PBI) by the Senate Rules Committee on Jan. 24, so SJ260 is effectively dead for this session.

Senator Surovell’s SB1007 would provide new, dedicated  revenue to expand active mobility and safety infrastructure in Northern Virginia, by imposing an annual $0.50 tax on each parking space in any private off-street parking facility with revenue supporting a new Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Safety Improvements Infrastructure Fund.  Status: On Jan. 23, the Senate Transportation Committee amended this bill to a study of potential new revenue sources and re-referred it the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee where it may be heard as soon as Jan. 28.  Please contact your Senator to strongly support SB1007 if they serve on the latter committee.

Delegate Krizek’s HB2059, Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act, would allocate no less than $200M of recordation tax revenues for specified land protection and preservation purposes, including 12.5% to DCR to establish a statewide system of trails and 12.5% to VDOT for regional multi-use trails. Status: Heard by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources on Jan. 22 and passed by the day, so we ask that you contact your Delegate to strongly support this initiative if they serve on this committee.

Several bills would expand Virginia’s existing safety camera enforcement program:

Senator Ebbin’s SB1416 –  Updates language in Virginia’s careless driving statute to protect “Vulnerable Road Users”  (Section §46.2-816.1) to make it more effective at holding offenders accountable. See this recent Washington Post article.  Status: On Jan 23, the Senate Transportation Committee re-referred SB1416 to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee where it may be heard on Jan. 29.  If your senator serves on the latter committee, ask them to support SB1416.

Headed to a Floor Vote (contact your senator or delegate now)

Senator Williams Graves’ SB1233–to allow photo enforcement of crosswalk and stop sign violations at school crossing zones, highway work zones, and high-risk intersections–passed 9-5 in the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan.23 and will be voted on the Senate floor in a few days.

Senator Surovell’s SB776–to allow state and local police to enforce federal traffic violations in NoVA–passed 10-4 in the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 23 and will be voted on the Senate floor in a few days.

Scheduled Committee or Subcommittee Hearings:

HB2041, a speed-safety-camera bill, will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, January 28 at 9 am.  Previously, it was  reported on a 5-3 vote by the House Transportation, Innovations Subcommittee on January 22.

Other House Subcommittee Actions to Date:

HB2059, Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act, was heard by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 22, then passed by for the day.  That subcommittee may reconsider HB2059 on January 29.

How can you take action?

We ask that you reach out to your Delegate and/or Senator if they serve on a committee or subcommittee that will vote on one of the bills above. If you are unsure who your legislators are, enter your address here.

You can check a bill’s status by clicking on the bill’s link above.

To determine if your legislator is a member of the respective committee (or subcommittee), click on the applicable committee/subcommittee link to see the list of members. Members’ names are listed and linked to web pages with their email addresses and phone numbers.

If one of the committee members is your legislator, please call or write them a short note encouraging their support. (If they sponsored the bill, you can thank them).

With the short session, and Crossover on February 4, bills will move quickly through the legislative process. Best to check committee pages directly, but we’ll also do our best to provide updates at least weekly here.