Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SB 549 — Travel expenses; local officials.

Last action — Left in Counties, Cities and Towns

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

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Travel expenses; local officials. Provides that any travel expense of a local official, as defined in the bill, to be paid from public funds, as defined in the bill, that is anticipated to exceed $5,000 shall be subject to approval in advance by a vote of the local governing body in an open meeting. The bill specifies that if the final travel expense exceeds the previously approved amount, such expense shall be reported to the governing body and noted in the meeting agenda or meeting minutes within 60 days of the determination. The bill requires a local official to repay to the locality any travel expense that the governing body determines such local official misappropriated within 10 days and to furnish a copy of any receipts for such expense at the next public meeting. The bill allows a locality to adopt more stringent standards for local officials' travel expenses.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

30 added · 29 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill SB 549 raise the threshold for local officials' travel expenses that require approval from $2,500 to $5,000. This change means that local officials can now travel without needing prior approval for expenses up to the higher amount, which could streamline the process for them. Additionally, the language clarifying what constitutes a "local official" and "public funds" has been adjusted, helping to ensure transparency in how public money is spent. Overall, these changes could impact how local governments manage and oversee travel expenditures.

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SESSION INTRODUCED 24101797D SENATE BILL NO.
SESSION ENGROSSED 24101797D SENATE BILL NO.
549 I Offered January 10, 2024 N Prefiled January 10, 2024 T A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-1406.1, relating to travel expenses of local officials.
549 Senate Amendments in [ ] - February 7, 2024 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-1406.1, relating to travel expenses of local officials.
R Patrons––Perry, Suetterlein and Surovell O –––––––––– D Referred to Committee on Local Government –––––––––– U Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
–––––––––– Patrons Prior to Engrossment––Senators Perry, Suetterlein and Surovell Referred to Committee on Local Government –––––––––– E Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
C 1.
N 1.
§ 15.2-1406.1.
That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-1406.1 as follows:
G § 15.2-1406.1.
section numbered 15.2-1406.1 as follows:
"Local official" means a member of a local governing body [ , the chief administrative officer of a locality and his deputies, and department heads of a locality ] .
E A.
O "Public funds" includes moneys from general tax revenues from any source, the general fund, transient occupancy or restricted transient occupancy taxes, the board or council members' budgets, the general board or council budget, the local government budget, and any funds in the budget of, oS under the control of, any department of any local government, agency, authority, entity, or business,Ewhether forB.
For purposes of this section:
Any travel expense of a local official to be paid from public funds that is anticipated to exceed [ $2,500 $5,000 ] shall be subject to approval in advance by a vote of the local governing body in an open meeting.
"Local official" means a member of a local governing body, the chief administrative officer of a locality and his deputies, and department heads of a locality.
If the final travel expense exceeds the previously approved amount, such expense shall be reported to the governing body and noted in the meeting agenda or meeting minutes within 60 days of the determination.
"Public funds" includes moneys from general tax revenues from any source, the general fund, general board or council budget, the local government budget, and any funds in the budget of, or undere the control of, any department of any local government, agency, authority, entity, or business, whether for profit or not-for-profit, that receives tax dollars.
If the local governing body determines that a local official has misappropriated a travel expense, such local official shall repay such expense to the locality within 10 days and shall furC.
B.
Any travel expense of a local official to be paid from public funds that is anticipated to exceed $2,500 shall be subject to approval in advance by a vote of the local governing body in an openB reported to the governing body and noted in the meeting agenda or meeting minutes within 60 days of the determination.
If the local governing body determines that a local official has misappropriated a travel expense, such local official shall repay such expense to the locality within 10 days and shall furnish a copy of any receipts for such expense at the next public meeting.
C.
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Action History

  1. Left in Counties, Cities and Towns

  2. Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 2-N)

  3. Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #3

  4. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

  5. Read first time

  6. Placed on Calendar

  7. Read third time and passed Senate (29-Y 9-N 1-A)

  8. Passed by for the day

  9. Printed as engrossed 24101797D-E

  10. Engrossed by Senate as amended SB549E

  11. Committee amendments agreed to

  12. Reading of amendments waived

  13. Read second time

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

  15. Reported from Local Government with amendments (10-Y 3-N 2-A)

  16. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  17. Referred to Committee on Local Government

  18. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101797D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 145 not signed on · 11 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (145)

145 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.

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

Read third time and passed Senate (29-Y 9-N 1-A)

Passed 29 Yea · 9 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 29902
Total 29902
% of votes cast 73%23%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Not Voting
Angelia Williams Graves — Nay
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Not Voting
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Nay
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Nay
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Nay
Lamont Bagby — Nay
Lashrecse D. Aird — Nay
Mamie E. Locke — Nay
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Nay
Subramanyam, Suhas — Nay
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Not Voting
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Local Government with amendments (10-Y 3-N 2-A)

Passed 10 Yea · 3 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10302
Total 10302
% of votes cast 67%20%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Angelia Williams Graves — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Nay
Lashrecse D. Aird — Nay
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Not Voting
Subramanyam, Suhas — Not Voting
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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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

What does SB 549 do?
Travel expenses; local officials. Provides that any travel expense of a local official, as defined in the bill, to be paid from public funds, as defined in the bill, that is anticipated to exceed $5,000 shall be subject to approval in advance by a vote of the local governing body in an open meeting. The bill specifies that if the final travel expense exceeds the previously approved amount, such expense shall be reported to the governing body and noted in the meeting agenda or meeting minutes within 60 days of the determination. The bill requires a local official to repay to the locality any travel expense that the governing body determines such local official misappropriated within 10 days and to furnish a copy of any receipts for such expense at the next public meeting. The bill allows a locality to adopt more stringent standards for local officials' travel expenses.
Who sponsors SB 549?
SB 549 is sponsored by Russet Perry, David R. Suetterlein, and Scott A. Surovell.
What is the current status of SB 549?
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 549?
Track SB 549 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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