Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Passed House Of Delegates

HB 655 — Local fiscal distress; determination by Auditor of Public Accounts, state intervention.

Last action — VOTE: Defeated (43-Y 55-N)

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

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House of Delegates” 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Local fiscal distress; determination by Auditor of Public Accounts; state intervention. Sets out a procedure for determining when localities are in fiscal distress, as defined in the bill, and when state intervention may be necessary. The bill requires the Auditor of Public Accounts to develop criteria for a preliminary determination that a locality may be in fiscal distress. The bill also requires the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget to identify any amounts remaining unexpended from general fund appropriations in the state budget as of June 30 of each year, which constitute state aid to local governments. From such unexpended balances, the Governor may reappropriate up to $750,000 from amounts that would otherwise revert to the balance of the general fund and transfer such amounts as necessary to establish a component of fund balance that may be used for the purpose of providing technical assistance and intervention actions for localities deemed to be fiscally distressed and in need of intervention to address such distress. The bill provides that if a report to the Governor concludes that a locality is either unwilling or unable to comply with the conditions necessary to address its fiscal distress, the Governor shall use all powers available to him to intervene for the purpose of addressing such fiscal distress. The bill further grants authority to the Governor to appoint an emergency fiscal manager and grant the manager with all powers available and necessary to implement a plan to restore sustainable fiscal health to the locality. The emergency fiscal officer shall give timely notice of any proposed actions to be taken and an opportunity for public input prior to such action and shall establish benchmarks that will allow a locality to exit the state intervention plan upon meeting such benchmarks.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

199 added · 130 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of Bill HB 655 introduces a clear definition of "fiscal distress" and outlines the role of an "emergency fiscal manager" to address financial emergencies in local governments. This change is significant because it establishes a formal process for state intervention when localities face financial crises, ensuring they can maintain essential public services and fiscal accountability. The revisions aim to improve the state's response to local financial challenges, ultimately helping to protect community services and resources.

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SESSION INTRODUCED 24104811D I HOUSE BILL NO.
SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 24107504D AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on February 9, 2024) (Patron Prior to Substitute––Delegate Coyner) A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-2903 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2512.1, relating to local fiscal distress;
655 Offered January 10, 2024 N Prefiled January 9, 2024 T A Bfiscal distress;
adding a section numbered 15.2-2512.1, relating to locaR –––––––––– Patron––Coyner O –––––––––– D Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns –––––––––– U Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
C 1.
Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-2512.1as follows:d that the Code of § 15.2-2512.1.
That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-2512.1 as follows:
intervention.2.1.
state E A.
state intervention.
For purposes of this section, "fiscal distress" means a situation whereby the provision and sustainability of public services, or the ability to appropriately fund financial liabilities, is threatened by various administrative and financial shortcomings, including cash flow issues, inability to pay expenses, revenue shortfalls, deficit spending, structurally imbalanced budgets, billing and revenue collection inadequacies and discrepancies, debt overload, failure to meet obligations to authorities, school divisions, or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth, or lack of trained and qualified staff to process administrative and financial transactions.
A.
Fiscal distress may be caused by factors internal to controllable by management, or the local governing body or its constitutional officers.
For purposes of this section:
may not be B.
"Auditor" means the Auditor of Public Accounts.
The Auditor of Public Accounts (the Auditor) shall use leading indicators to develop criteria for a preliminary determination that a locality may be in fiscal distress.
H "Emergency fiscal manager" means an official appointed by the Commission on Local GovernmentOto for a locality in the Commonwealth.
Such criteria shall be bas5d upon information regularly collected by the Commonwealth or otherwise regularly made public by the locality.
The "emergency fiscal manager" shall have broad powers to rectify the financial emergency and to assure the fiscal accountability of the locality and the locality's capacity to provide or cause to be provided necessary governmental services essential to the public health, safety, and welfare.
This information includes expenditure reports submitted to the Auditor, budget information posted on local government websites, revenue growth, financial reserves, debt, retirement liabilities, economic and property market value data, and reports prepared by the Commission on Local Government on revenue fiscal stress.
S "Fiscal distress" means a situation whereby the provision and sustainability of public services, or the ability to appropriately fund financial liabilities, is threatened by various administrative anE financial structurally imbalanced budgets, billing and revenue collection inadequacies and discrepancies, debtnding, overload, failure to meet obligations to authorities, school divisions, or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth, lack of trained and qualified staff to process administrative and financial transSctions, or the inability to timely produce an audited financial report.
Information provided by the Virginia Retirement System, the authorities concerning late or missed debt service payments shall be shared with the Auditor.ional C.
"Fiscal distress" may be caused by factors internal to the locality or external to the locality, and in various degrees such conditions may or may not be controllable by management or the local governing body or its constitutional officers.
Based upon the criteria established by the Auditor, the Auditor shall establish a prioritized early warning system.
B to develop criteria for a preliminary determination that a locality may be in fiscal distress.
Under the prioritized early warning system, the Auditor shall establish a regular process whereby it reviews data on at least an annual basis to make a preliminary determination that a :
Such criteria shall be based upon information regularly collected by the Commonwealth or otherwise regularly made public by the locality and the locality's annual audited financial reporting required to be submitted to the Auditor.
35 local government is in fiscal distress.
Information provided by the Virginia Retirement System, the Virginia Resources AutIority, 35 the Virginia Public Building Authority, and other state and regional authorities concerning late or 36 missed payments shall be shared with the Auditor.
A locality's inability to produce required financial reports in a 36 timely manner shall automatically trigger a fiscal distress analysis by the Auditor.
T 38 warning system.
/ 37 D.
Under the prioritized early warning system, the Auditor shall establish a regulared early 39 process whereby it reviews audited financial data and other relevant factors and qualitative information 40 on at least an annual basis to make a preliminary determination that a locality may meet the criteria for fiscal distress.
For localities where the Auditor has made a preliminary determination of fiscal distress based 38 upon the early warning system criteria, the Auditor shall notify the local governing body of its governing body or chief executive officer, the Auditor shall conduct a review and request documents andocal data from the locality.
As part of the early warning system, the Auditor shall use leading financiEl indicators based on key data from the locality's audited financial reports to evaluate information related to a locality's financial position, financial reserves, debt, and operating revenues and expenditures, along with other relevant factors as applicable.
Such review shall consider factors including budget processes, debt, borrowing, expenses and payables, revenues and receivables, and other areas including staffing, and the identification of external variables contributing to a locality's financial position.
The Auditor shall further evaluate localities that are identified leading indicators that may include retirement liabilities, revenue growth, economic and property market value data, reports prepared by the Commission on Local Government on revenue fiscal stress, and other relevant qualitative information.
If a locality has not submitted its audited annual financial report, pursuant to §§ 15.2-251H and 15.2-2511, within 18 months of the required December 15 deadline or provided a plan to do so, t6e Auditor shall notify the Governor, the Secretary of Finance, and the Chairmen of the House Comm5ttees Appropriations and Local Government that the Auditor is unable to review the locality's financial data as part of the early warning system or evaluate its financial condition due to the locality's delay with submitting its audited annual financial report.
A locality's inability to timely produce its required audited financial report within 18 months of the required deadline as specified in this subsection or to provide a plan to do so shall automatically effectuate the provisions pursuant to subsection D whereby the Auditor shall make a preliminary determination that the locality may meet the criteria for fiscal distress.
HB655H1 2 of 4 D.
For a locality where the Auditor has made a preliminary determination of fiscal distress based upon the early warning system criteria, the Auditor shall notify the local governing body of its preliminary determination that it may meet the criteria for fiscal distress.
In coordination with the local governing body or chief executive officer, the Auditor may conduct a review and request documents and data from the locality and the locality's published budget information.
Such review shall consider factors including budget processes, debt, borrowing, expenses and payables, revenues and receivables, and other areas, including staffing and the identification of external variables contributing to a locality's financial position.
After such review, if the Auditor is of the opinion that state assistance, oversight, or targeted intervention is needed, either to Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance andGovernor and the Appropriations and the governing body of the locality in writing, outlining specific issues or actions that need to be addressed by state intervention.
If the locality does not acknowledge the Auditor's notification of a preliminary determination or does not provide a response to the Auditor's requests within reasonable timeframes so specified, the Auditor shall notify the Governor, the Secretary of Finance, and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government that the locality is not responsive.
After such review, if the local governing body or chief executive officer requests assistance or the Auditor is of the opinion that state assistance, oversight, or targeted intervention is needed, either to further assess, help stabilize, or remediate the situation, the Auditor shall notify the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government and the governing body of the locality in writing, outlining specific issues or actions that need to be addressed by state assistance, oversight, or intervention.
Once the Governor has received a notification from the Auditor indicating fiscal distress in a specific locality, the Governor shall consult with the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations about a plan for state assistance, oversight, or intervention prior to any expenditure of funds from the cash reserve.
Any plan approved by the Governor for state assistance, oversight, or intervention shall, at a minimum, specify the purpose of such state assistance, oversight, or intervention efforts, the estimated duration of such efforts, and the anticipated resources, dollar amounts, and personnel directed toward such efforts.
The staffing necessary to carry out the assistance, oversight, or intervention plan may be assembled from either public agencies or private entities or both and, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Governor may use an expedited method of procurement to secure such staffing when, in his judgment, the need for state assistance, oversight, or intervention is of an emergency nature such that action must be taken in a timely manner to avoid or address unacceptable financial risks to the Commonwealth.
2.
The Director shall provide a listing of such amounts designated by item number and by program on or before August 15 of each year to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and App2.
The Director shall provide a listing of such amounts designated by item number and by program on or before August 15 of each year to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.
From such unexpended balances identified by the Director of the Department of Planning and HB655 2 of 3 Budget, the Governor may reappropriate up to $750,000 from amounts that would otherwise revert to the balance of the general fund and transfer such amounts as necessary to establish a component of fund balance, which may be used for the purpose of providing technical assistance and intervention actions for localities deemed to be fiscally distressed and in need of intervention to address such distress.
Any such reappropriation approved by the Governor shall be separately identified in the commitments specified on the balance sheet and financial statements of the State Comptroller for the close of each fiscal year, to the extent that such reserve is not used or added to by future appropriation actions.
Prior to any expenditure of the reappropriated reserve, the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations shall receive a notification from the Auditor that a specific locality is in need of intervention because of a worsening financial situation.
From such unexpended balances identified by the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, the Governor may reappropriate up to $750,000 from amounts that would otherwise revert to the balance of the general fund and transfer such amounts as necessary to establish a component of fund balance, which may be used for the purpose of providing state assistance, oversight, and intervention actions for localities deemed to be fiscally distressed and in need of state assistance, oversight, or intervention to address such distress.
The Auditor may issue such a notification upon receipt of audited financial statement or other information that indicates the existence of fiscal distress.
Any such reappropriation approved by the Governor shall be separately identified in the commitments specified on the balance sheet and financial statements of the State Comptroller for the close of each fiscal year, to the extent that such reserve is not used or added to by future appropriation actions.
4.
Prior to any expenditure of the reappropriated reserve, the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government shall receive a notification from the Auditor that a specific locality is in need of state assistance, oversight, or intervention because of a worsening financial situation.
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The Auditor may issue such a notification upon receipt of an audited financial statement or other information that indicates the existence of fiscal distress.
The notification issued by the Auditor pursuant to subsection D shall satisfy the notification requirement of this subdivision.
The notification issued by the Auditor indicating fiscal distress in a specific locality pursuant to subsection D shall satisfy the notification requirement of this subdivision.
4.
Once the Governor has received a notification from the Auditor indicating fiscal distress in a specific local government, the Governor shall consult with the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations about a plan for state intervention prior to any expenditure of funds from the cash reserve.
Any plan approved by the Governor for intervention shall, at a minimum, specify the purpose of such intervention, the estimated duration of the intervention, and the anticipated resources, dollar amounts, and personnel directed toward such effort.
The staffing necessary to carry out the intervention plan may be assembled from either public agencies or private entities or both and, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Governor may use an expedited method of procurement to secure such staffing when, in his judgment, the need for intervention is of an emergency nature such that action must be taken in a timely manner to avoid or address unacceptable financial risks to the Commonwealth.
The governing body and the elected constitutional officers of a locality subject to an intervention plan approved by the Governor shall assist all state appointed staff conducting the intervention regardless of whether such staff are from public agencies or private entities.
The governing body and the elected constitutional officers of a locality subject to a plan of state assistance, oversight, or intervention approved by the Governor shall assist all state-appointed staff of 4 state-appointed staff shall provide periodic reports in writing to the Governor and the Chairmen of theThe House Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government outlining the scope of issues discovered and any recommendations made to address such issues, and the progress that is made on such recommendations or other state assistance, oversight, or intervention efforts.
Intervention staff shall provide periodic reports in writing to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations outlining the scope of issues discovered and any recommendations made to remediate such issues, and the progress that is made on such recommendations or other remediation efforts.
These periodic reports shall specifically including constitutional officers, city, county, or town managers, and other local personnel in regard to their intervention work.
These periodic reports shall specifically address the degree of cooperation the intervention team is receiving from locally elected officials, including constitutional officers, city, county, or town managers, and other local personnel in regard to their intervention work.
The Commission on Local Government shall act in an oversight capacity for the purpose of determining whether a locality has taken appropriate action to address the issues specified in subsection D as requested by the intervention staff and whether the locality appears to be on track to resolve its fiscal distress.
The Commission on Local Government shall act in an oversight capacity for the purpose of determining whether a locality has taken appropriate action to address the issues specified in subsection D as requested by the intervention staff and whether the locality appears to be on track to resolve its local governments, shall be provided to the Commission on Local Government by the Auditor, and allded for agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Commission by the Auditor, and all agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.
The Commission on Local Government shall report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government.
The Commission shall report its findings and conclusions to Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.
O either unwilling or unable to comply with the conditions necessary to address its fiscal distreUs, the Commission on Local Government shall appoint an emergency fiscal manager and implement a remediation plan to restore sustainable fiscal health to the locality.
H.
Following such appointmeSt and during the duration of state remediation, the governing body and the chief executive officer of the locality shall not exercise any of the powers of those offices directly or indirectly relating Eo the officer shall be subject to any conditions required by the emergency fiscal manager.
If the Commission's report to the Governor concludes that a locality is either unwilling or unable to comply with the conditions necessary to address its fiscal distress, the Governor shall use all powers available to him to intervene for the purpose of addressing such fiscal distress.
Notwithstandinge any other provision of law, general or special, the emergency fiscal manager may shift certain responsibilities and duties from the treasurer of the locality to the emergency fiscal manager Sf the emergency fiscal manager determines that it is necessary in order to implement the remediation plan.
The Governor shall appoint an emergency fiscal manager and grant the manager with all powers available and necessary to implement a plan to restore sustainable fiscal health to the locality.
The emergency fiscal manager shall (i) implement an approved fiscal recovery plan;
The authority granted under this subsection may apply to any locality facing fiscal distress whether such fiscal conditions originated before or after the enactment of this authority.
(ii) approveUall approve all city employee payrolls;
The emergency fiscal manager shall submit a plan of action to resolve the locality's fiscal distress to the Commission on Local Government, which shall approve, reject, or revise the plan after timely notice of any proposed actions to be taken has been provided to the public and an opportunity for public input has been provided and such input has been considered by the Commission.
(iv) approve all long-term debt service and loan payments;
Following approval of the plan by the Commission, the emergency fiscal manager shall report regularly to the Commission, the Governor, and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations regarding progress in implementation of the plan.
(v)ii) complete internal control and forensic audit assessments, as needed;
The emergency fiscal manager shall establish benchmarks, approved by the Commission, that will allow a locality to exit the state intervention plan upon meeting such benchmarks.
and (vi) approve the annuaS operating and capital budget.
of 3 I.
The emergency fiscal manager may make recommendations to the governing body regarding the locality's personnel and staffing.
The Department of General Services shall develop a master contract of qualified private sector turnaround specialists with expertise in local government interveItion that the Governor can use to warranted in situations of local fiscal distress.anner when he deNermines that state intervention is T R O D C E D B 5
The authority granted under this subsection may apply to any locality facing fiscal distress whether such fiscal conditions origInated remediation plan to resolve the locality's fiscal distress to the Commission on Local Government, which shall approve, reject, or revise the plan after timely notice of any proposed actions to be taken has been provided to the public and an opportunity for public input has been provided and such input has been considered by the Commission on Local Government.
Such plan shall specify the purpose of remediTtion efforts, including the roles and responsibilities of the local governing body and the chief executive locality to exit the state remediation plan upon meeting such benchmarks.
Following approval of thellow a remediation plan by the Commission on Local Government, the emergency fiscal manager shall report regularly to the Commission on Local Government, the Governor, and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government regarding progress in implementation of the remediation approved in the remediation plan and shall so notify the Governor and the Chairmen of the Houseks Committees on Appropriations and Counties, Cities and Towns and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Local Government.
B I.
The Department of General Services shall develop a master contract of qualified private s5ctor turnaround specialists with expertise in local government intervention that the Governor can usH to warranted in situations of local fiscal distress.anner when he determines that state interventi1n is § 15.2-2903.
General powers and duties of Commission.
The Commission shall have the following general powers and duties:
1.
To make regulations, including rules of procedure for the conducting of hearings;
2.
To keep a record of its proceedings and to be responsible for the custody and preservation of its papers and documents;
HB655H1 4 of 4 3.
To serve as a mediator between localities;
4.
To investigate, analyze, and make findings of fact, as directed by law, as to the probable effect on the people residing in any area of the Commonwealth of any proposed action in that area:
a.
To annex territory, b.
To have an area declared immune from annexation, c.
To establish a town or independent city, d.
To settle or adjust boundaries between localities, e.
To make a transition from city status to town status, f.
To make a transition from a county to a city, g.
To consolidate two or more localities, at least one of which is a county, into a city, or h.
To enter into economic growth-sharing agreements among localities;
5.
To conduct investigations, analyses and determinations, in the sole discretion of the Commission, for the guidance of localities in the conduct of their affairs upon the request of such localities;
6.
To receive from all agencies, as defined in § 2.2-128, assessments of all mandates imposed on localities administered by such agencies.
The assessments shall be conducted on a schedule to be set by the Commission, with the approval of the Governor and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, provided that the assessments shall not be required to be performed more than once every four years.
The purpose of the assessments shall be to determine which mandates, if any, may be altered or eliminated.
If an assessment reveals that such mandates may be altered or eliminated without interruption of local service delivery and without undue threat to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Commonwealth, the Commission shall so advise the Governor and the General Assembly;
7.
To prepare and annually update a catalog of state and federal mandates imposed on localities including, where available, a summary of the fiscal impact on localities of all new mandates.
All departments, agencies of government, and localities are directed to make available such information and assistance as the Commission may request in maintaining the catalog;
8.
[Expired];
9.
To act in an oversight capacity and coordinate with the Auditor of Public Accounts for the purpose of determining whether a locality in fiscal distress has taken appropriate action as provided in § 15.2-2512.1;
and 10.
To perform such other duties as may be imposed upon it, from time to time, by law.
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Action History

  1. VOTE: Defeated (43-Y 55-N)

  2. Read third time and defeated by House (43-Y 55-N)

  3. Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB655H1

  4. Committee substitute agreed to 24107504D-H1

  5. Read second time

  6. Read first time

  7. Impact statement from DPB (HB655H1)

  8. Committee substitute printed 24107504D-H1

  9. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (18-Y 2-N)

  10. House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  11. Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 3-N)

  12. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  13. Impact statement from DPB (HB655)

  14. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

  15. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104811D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 57 voted No

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

VOTE: Defeated (43-Y 55-N)

Failed 43 Yea · 54 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 435402
Total 435402
% of votes cast 43%55%0%2%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Nay
Alex Q. Askew — Nay
Alfonso H. Lopez — Nay
Amy J. Laufer — Nay
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Nay
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Nay
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Nay
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
Bulova, David L. — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Nay
Charniele L. Herring — Nay
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Nay
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Nay
David A. Reid — Nay
Debra D. Gardner — Nay
Delores L. McQuinn — Nay
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Nay
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Nay
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 — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Nay
Irene Shin — Nay
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Nay
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Nay
Joshua G. Cole — Nay
Kannan Srinivasan — Nay
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Nay
Karrie K. Delaney — Nay
Kathy K.L. Tran — Nay
Katrina Callsen — Nay
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Nay
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Nay
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Nay
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Nay
Marcus B. Simon — Nay
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Not Voting
Marty Martinez — Nay
Michael B. Feggans — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Nay
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Nay
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Nay
Paul E. Krizek — Nay
Phil M. Hernandez — Nay
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Nay
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Nay
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Nay
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Nay
Sam Rasoul — Nay
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Not Voting
Sickles, Mark D. — Nay
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Nay
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (18-Y 2-N)

Passed 18 Yea · 2 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 18202
Total 18202
% of votes cast 82%9%0%9%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Not Voting
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Not Voting
Higgins, Geary — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Nay
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

finance housing
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 655 do?
Local fiscal distress; determination by Auditor of Public Accounts; state intervention. Sets out a procedure for determining when localities are in fiscal distress, as defined in the bill, and when state intervention may be necessary. The bill requires the Auditor of Public Accounts to develop criteria for a preliminary determination that a locality may be in fiscal distress. The bill also requires the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget to identify any amounts remaining unexpended from general fund appropriations in the state budget as of June 30 of each year, which constitute state aid to local governments. From such unexpended balances, the Governor may reappropriate up to $750,000 from amounts that would otherwise revert to the balance of the general fund and transfer such amounts as necessary to establish a component of fund balance that may be used for the purpose of providing technical assistance and intervention actions for localities deemed to be fiscally distressed and in need of intervention to address such distress. The bill provides that if a report to the Governor concludes that a locality is either unwilling or unable to comply with the conditions necessary to address its fiscal distress, the Governor shall use all powers available to him to intervene for the purpose of addressing such fiscal distress. The bill further grants authority to the Governor to appoint an emergency fiscal manager and grant the manager with all powers available and necessary to implement a plan to restore sustainable fiscal health to the locality. The emergency fiscal officer shall give timely notice of any proposed actions to be taken and an opportunity for public input prior to such action and shall establish benchmarks that will allow a locality to exit the state intervention plan upon meeting such benchmarks.
Who sponsors HB 655?
HB 655 is sponsored by Coyner, Carrie E..
What is the current status of HB 655?
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House of Delegates” 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 HB 655?
Track HB 655 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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