Virginia 2023 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 1495 — Local enforcement action; willful disregard for applicable law, damages.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0553)

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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 20, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 26, 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 9 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

21 added · 22 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill SB 1495 was amended to clarify that individuals negatively impacted by local enforcement actions, which are conducted in willful disregard of the law, can seek damages and have their legal costs covered. This change enhances accountability for local governments and gives citizens the ability to challenge unfair enforcement. It also establishes a clear timeline, stating that these provisions apply to actions taken from July 1, 2023, onward. This matters because it empowers citizens and ensures local authorities follow the law more diligently.

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SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E N An enforcement action;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2023 SESSION CHAPTER 553 An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2208.2, relating to local enforcement action;
damages.2-2208.2, relating to local R O [S 1495] L Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
damages.
L 1.
[S 1495] Approved March 26, 2023 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
E for applicable law.amages for an enforcement action undertaken by a locality with willful disreDard A.
§ 15.2-2208.2.
Damages for an enforcement action undertaken by a locality with willful disregard for applicable law.
A.
S B.
B.
Any action brought pursuant to this section may be filed with the general district court 1aving Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate a claim of qualified immunity.
Any action brought pursuant to this section may be filed with the general district court having jurisdiction of the locality, and the court shall hear and determine the case as soon as practical.
as practi5al.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate a claim of qualified immunity.
That the provisions of this act shall apply only to enforcement actions taken on or after JuRy 1, 2023.
That the provisions of this act shall apply only to enforcement actions taken on or after July 1, 2023.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0553)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 553 (effective 7/1/23)

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

  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 13, 2023

  5. Signed by Speaker

  6. Signed by President

  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1495ER)

  8. Enrolled

  9. Title replaced 23106684D-H1

  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N)

  11. VOTE: Block Vote Passage (96-Y 0-N)

  12. Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (96-Y 0-N)

  13. Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB1495H1

  14. Committee substitute agreed to 23106684D-H1

  15. Read third time

  16. Read second time

  17. Committee substitute printed 23106684D-H1

  18. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (20-Y 0-N)

  19. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)

  20. Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #2

  21. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  22. Read first time

  23. Placed on Calendar

  24. Passed Senate (34-Y 6-N)

  25. Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

  26. Printed as engrossed 23103576D-E

  27. Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1495E

  28. Committee amendments agreed to

  29. Reading of amendments waived

  30. Read second time

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

  32. Reported from Judiciary with amendments (10-Y 5-N)

  33. Impact statement from DHCD (SB1495)

  34. Rereferred to Judiciary

  35. Rereferred from Local Government (10-Y 0-N)

  36. Referred to Committee on Local Government

  37. Presented and ordered printed 23103576D

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.

Show all 147 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1495?
SB 1495 is sponsored by Scott A. Surovell.
What is the current status of SB 1495?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 1495?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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