Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SJ 28 — Public transit systems, joint subcommittee to study funding needs.

Last action — Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ28ER)

  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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Study; joint subcommittee; funding needs in certaintransit systems; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to studylong-term, sustainable, dedicated funding and cost-containment controlsand strategies to ensure the Washington Metropolitan Area TransitAuthority, the Virginia Railway Express, and the public transit systemsthat serve the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Potomacand Rappahannock Transportation Commission transportation districtsmeet the growing needs of public transit in the region.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

105 added · 108 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Senate Joint Resolution No. 28 primarily clarify and update the focus on studying the funding and operational needs of public transit in Northern Virginia. The revised bill emphasizes the importance of both the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), aiming to ensure they can adapt to growing demand and financial challenges, particularly after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This matters because it highlights a commitment to improving public transit infrastructure and services, which are crucial for the region's economic health and mobility.

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SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 24108457D AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations on February 28, 2024) (Patron Prior to Substitute––Senator Ebbin) Establishing a joint subcommittee to study long-term, sustainable, dedicated operations and capital funding as well as cost-containment controls and strategies to ensure the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Virginia Railway Express, and the public transit systems that serve the Commission transportation districts meet the growing needs of public transit in the region.
SESSION ENROLLED SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.
28 E Establishing a joint subcommittee to study long-term, sustainable, dedicated operations and capital N funding as well as cost-containment controls and strategies to ensure the Washington Metropolitan R Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportationat serve the O Commission transportation districts meet the growing needs of public transit in the region.
WHEREAS, Northern Virginia is served by a network of public transit providers that move more than 1.5 million people each week;
L Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2024 L Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 4, 2024 E WHEREAS, Northern Virginia is served by a network of public transit providers that move more than 1.5 million people each week;
and WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) found that Northern Virginia's transit network generates $1.5 billion in income and sales tax that goes to the H Commonwealth's general fund each year;
and D WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) found that Northern Virginia's transit network generates $1.5 billion in income and sales tax that goes to the ComWHEREAS, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is the backbone of Northern Virginia's transit system and plays a critical role in the Commonwealth's transportation network and economic growth;
and O Northern Virginia's transit system and plays a critical role in the Commonwealth's transportation network and economic growth;
and WHEREAS, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provides important commuter rail services that J Columbia, providing capacity to eliminate at least one highway lane from Interstate 95;
and U WHEREAS, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provides important commuter rail services that provide access from communities along Interstate 66 and Interstate 95 to the center of the DistSict of Columbia, providing capacity to eliminate at least one highway lane from Interstate 95;
andDistrict of 8 WHEREAS, the Commonwealth's multibillion dollar investment in Transforming Rail in Virginia R enables VRE's and Amtrak Virginia's long-term growth and success;
and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth's multibillion dollar investment in Transforming Rail in Virginia E enaWHEREAS, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) play important funding, coordination, and governance roles for transit agencies operating within their districts;
and WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) play important funding, coordination, and governance rolWHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the financial operating model of all transit agencies across the United States, including those that serve Northern Virginia, through inflation and reduced ridership;
and S WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the financial operating model of all transit agencies across the United States, including those that serve Northern Virginia, through inflation and reduced ridership;
and WHEREAS, federal pandemic aid, which has supported transit systems across the region since 2020, hasWHEREAS, in June 2023, WMATA projected a FY 2025 operating budget gap of $750 million that would grow to $1.2 billion by FY 2035;
and B has already been exhausted or will be exhausted in the coming years;
and WHEREAS, in June 2023, WMATA projected that dedicated capital funding bond capacity would be exhausted by FY 2029 or earlier, which would constrain the capacity of WMATA's capital program;
andross the region since 2020, WHEREAS, in June 2023, WMATA projected a FY 2025 operating budget gap of $750 million that S would grow to $1.2 billion by FY 2035;
and WHEREAS, the existing three percent cap on the annual growth in Virginia's operating assistance to that need to be addressed;
and T WHEREAS, in June 2023, WMATA projected that dedicated capital funding bond capacity would beI 35 exhausted by FY 2029 or earlier, which would constrain the capacity of WMATA's capital program;
ando help control costs but has resulted in some unintended consequences WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to ensure that ongoing vital investments in transit are managed in an accountable and transparent way and that every effort is made to ensure reasonable and effective cost-control measures are in place;
and 36 WHEREAS, the existing three percent cap on the annual growth in Virginia's operating assistaTce to 38 that need to be addressed;
now, therefore, be it established to study long-term, sustainable, dedicated operations and capital funding as well as cost-containment controls and strategies to ensure the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Virginia Railway Express, and the public transit systems that serve the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission transportation districts meet the growing needs of public transit in the region.
ando help control costs but has resulted in some unintended consequeUces 39 WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to ensure that ongoing vital investments in transit are 40 managed in an accountable and transparent way and that every effort is made to ensure reasonable and effective cost-control measures are in place;
The joint subcommittee shall consist of officio members.
now, therefore, be it E RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study long-term, sustainable, dedicated operations and capital funding as well as cost-containment controls and strategies to ensure the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Transportation Commission and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission transportation districts meet the growing needs of public transit in the region.
The joint subcommittee shall consist of 11 members that include seven legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and two ex officio members.
three members of the Senate who shall bS members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, to be appointed by the Senate 2 Committee on Rules;
three members of the Senate who shall bex members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;
four members of the House of Delegates, two of whom shall be members of theH Transportation, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the2 principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates;
four members of the House of Delegates, two of whom shall be members of the House Committee on Appropriations and two of whom shall be members of the House Committee on principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates;
Nonlegislative citizen SJ28H2 2 of 2 members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Nonlegislative citizen of 2 members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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Action History

  1. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ28ER)

  2. House substitute agreed to by Senate 24108457D-H2

  3. VOTE: Block Vote Adoption (97-Y 0-N)

  4. Agreed to by House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)

  5. Engrossed by House - committee substitute SJ28H2

  6. Committee on Appropriations substitute agreed to 24108457D-H2

  7. Committee on Rules substitute rejected 24108082D-H1

  8. Taken up

  9. Committee substitute printed 24108457D-H2

  10. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  11. Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  12. Committee substitute printed 24108082D-H1

  13. Reported from Rules with substitute (16-Y 0-N)

  14. Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations

  15. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 0-N)

  16. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  17. Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee

  18. Referred to Committee on Rules

  19. Placed on Calendar

  20. Agreed to by Senate by voice vote

  21. Read third time

  22. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SJ28S1

  23. Committee substitute agreed to 24105637D-S1

  24. Reading of substitute waived

  25. Read second time

  26. Reading waived (40-Y 0-N)

  27. Committee substitute printed 24105637D-S1

  28. Reported from Rules with substitute

  29. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  30. Referred to Committee on Rules

  31. Presented and ordered printed 24104157D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 36 co-sponsors · 111 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (36)

Not signed on (111)

111 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 111 →

"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

VOTE: Block Vote Adoption (97-Y 0-N)

Passed 96 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 96003
Total 96003
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Not Voting
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Higgins, Geary — Not Voting
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Not Voting
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 22000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Rules with substitute (16-Y 0-N)

Passed 16 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 16002
Total 16002
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Not Voting
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Not Voting
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea

Official roll call →

Reading waived (40-Y 0-N)

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
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 — 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 — 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 →

Subjects

public-safety transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does SJ 28 do?
Study; joint subcommittee; funding needs in certaintransit systems; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to studylong-term, sustainable, dedicated funding and cost-containment controlsand strategies to ensure the Washington Metropolitan Area TransitAuthority, the Virginia Railway Express, and the public transit systemsthat serve the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Potomacand Rappahannock Transportation Commission transportation districtsmeet the growing needs of public transit in the region.
Who sponsors SJ 28?
SJ 28 is sponsored by Jennifer B. Boysko, Barbara A. Favola, L. Louise Lucas, David W. Marsden, Jeremy S. McPike, Stella G. Pekarsky, Russet Perry, Bryce E. Reeves, Danica A. Roem, Saddam Azlan Salim, Richard H. Stuart, Scott A. Surovell, Terry L. Austin, Candi Mundon King, Atoosa R. Reaser, Holly M. Seibold, Irene Shin, Marcus B. Simon, Kannan Srinivasan, Joshua E. Thomas, Vivian E. Watts, Laura Jane Cohen, Joshua G. Cole, Karrie K. Delaney, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., Adam P. Ebbin, Charniele L. Herring, Patrick A. Hope, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Paul E. Krizek, Alfonso H. Lopez, Marty Martinez, Adele Y. McClure, Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Maldonado, Michelle Lopes, Sickles, Mark D., and Subramanyam, Suhas.
What is the current status of SJ 28?
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 SJ 28?
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