Virginia 2023 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 1394 — Cutting of grass and weeds on certain property; localities in Planning District 22.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0724)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 11, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 27, 2023.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 10 recorded votes so far — a real headwind.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

75 added · 73 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill SB 1394 clarify how local authorities in Virginia can manage trash, clutter, and overgrown vegetation on properties. Key changes include specifying that trash, garbage, and other debris must be disposed of in designated receptacles or authorized facilities, ensuring cleaner and safer communities. Additionally, the definition of "clutter" has been expanded to include items like mechanical equipment and furniture that can detract from neighborhood aesthetics. These adjustments help local governments better enforce property maintenance standards, which can enhance community health and appearance.

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SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 15.2-901 of the Code of Virginia, relating to cutting of grass and weeds on certain property;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2023 SESSION CHAPTER 724 An Act to amend and reenact § 15.2-901 of the Code of Virginia, relating to cutting of grass and weeds on certain property;
R O [S 1394] Approved L L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[S 1394] Approved March 27, 2023 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
E § 15.2-901.
§ 15.2-901.
Locality may provide for removal or disposal of trash and clutter, cutting of grDss, weeA.
Locality may provide for removal or disposal of trash and clutter, cutting of grass, weeds, and running bamboo;
Any locality may, by ordinance, provide that:ies;
penalty in certain counties;
A.
Any locality may, by ordinance, provide that:
The owners of property therein shall, at such time or times as the governing body may prescribe, remove therefrom any and all trash, garbage, refuse, litter, clutter, except on land zoned for or in active farming operation, and other substances that might endanger the health or safety of other residents of such locality, or may, whenever the governing body deems it necessary, after reasonable notice, have such trash, garbage, refuse, litter, clutter, except on land zoned for or in active farming operation, and other like substances that might endanger the health of other residents of the locality removedBby its own agents or employees, in which event the cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and3paid of this section, "clutter" includes mechanical equipment, household furniture, containers, and 4imilares items that may be detrimental to the well-being of a community when they are left in public view for an extended period or are allowed to accumulate.
The owners of property therein shall, at such time or times as the governing body may prescribe, remove therefrom any and all trash, garbage, refuse, litter, clutter, except on land zoned for or in active such locality, or may, whenever the governing body deems it necessary, after reasonable notice, haveof such trash, garbage, refuse, litter, clutter, except on land zoned for or in active farming operation, and other like substances that might endanger the health of other residents of the locality removed by its own agents or employees, in which event the cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected.
R 2.
For purposes of this section, "clutter" includes mechanical equipment, household furniture, containers, and similar items that may be detrimental to the well-being of a community when they are left in public view for an extended period or are allowed to accumulate.
2.
The owners of occupied or vacant developed or undeveloped property therein, including such foreign growth, including running bamboo as defined in § 15.2-901.1, on such property or any partother thereof at such time or times as the governing body shall prescribe, or may, whenever the governing body deems it necessary, after reasonable notice as determined by the locality, have such grass, weeds, or other foreign growth cut by its agents or employees, in which event the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected.
The owners of occupied or vacant developed or undeveloped property therein, including such property upon which buildings or other improvements are located, shall cut the grass, weeds, and other foreign growth, including running bamboo as defined in § 15.2-901.1, on such property or any part thereof at such time or times as the governing body shall prescribe, or may, whenever the governing body deems it necessary, after reasonable notice as determined by the locality, have such grass, weeds, or other foreign growth cut by its agents or employees, in which event the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected.
No such ordinance force or effect except within the boundaries of platted subdivisions or any other areas zoned forany residential, business, commercial, or industrial use.
No such ordinance adopted by any county having a density of population of less than 500 per square mile shall have any force or effect except within the boundaries of platted subdivisions or any other areas zoned for residential, business, commercial, or industrial use.
The owners of any land, regardless of zoning classification, used for the interment of human § 15.2-901.1, on such property or any part thereof at such time or times as the governing body shall prescribe, or may, whenever the governing body deems it necessary, after reasonable notice as determined by the locality, have such grass, weeds, or other foreign growth cut by its agents or employees, in which event the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected.
The owners of any land, regardless of zoning classification, used for the interment of human remains shall cut the grass, weeds, and other foreign growth, including running bamboo as defined in § 15.2-901.1, on such property or any part thereof at such time or times as the governing body shall prescribe, or may, whenever the governing body deems it necessary, after reasonable notice as determined by the locality, have such grass, weeds, or other foreign growth cut by its agents or employees, in which event the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected.
been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles of 2 3 (§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1.
B.
Every charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property shall have been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles (§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1.
Such liens may be waived only as to a purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner.
Such liens may be waived only as to a of 2 purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner.
The governing body of any locality may, however, by ordinance provide that such violations shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor in the event three civil penalties have previously been imposed on the same defendant for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period.
The governing body of any locality may, however, by ordinance provide that such violations shall be a Class misdemeanor in the event three civil penalties have previously been imposed on the same defendant for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0724)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 724 (effective 7/1/23)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 27, 2023

  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 2, 2023

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1394ER)

  8. Enrolled

  9. VOTE: Passage (61-Y 38-N)

  10. Passed House (61-Y 38-N)

  11. Read third time

  12. Passed by for the day

  13. Passed by for the day

  14. Reconsideration of House passage agreed to by House

  15. VOTE: Passage (59-Y 38-N)

  16. Passed House (59-Y 38-N)

  17. Read third time

  18. Read second time

  19. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (17-Y 5-N)

  20. Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

  21. Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #2

  22. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

  23. Read first time

  24. Placed on Calendar

  25. Passed Senate (33-Y 6-N)

  26. Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

  27. Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute SB1394S1

  28. Substitute by Senator Lewis agreed to 23106215D-S1

  29. Reading of substitute waived

  30. Committee amendments rejected

  31. Committee amendments reconsidered (39-Y 0-N)

  32. Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (39-Y 0-N)

  33. Passed by for the day

  34. Floor substitute printed 23106215D-S1 (Lewis)

  35. Passed by for the day

  36. Printed as engrossed 23102531D-E

  37. Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1394E

  38. Committee amendments agreed to

  39. Reading of amendments waived

  40. Read second time

  41. Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

  42. Reported from Local Government with amendments (13-Y 2-N)

  43. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  44. Referred to Committee on Local Government

  45. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/23 23102531D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Votes

Subjects

public-safety environment
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1394?
SB 1394 is sponsored by Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr..
What is the current status of SB 1394?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 11, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 1394?
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