Virginia 2027 Regular Session Status: In Committee

HB 421 — Eminent domain; condemnation of public waterworks systems, determination of lost profits.

Last action — Continued from last session

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

This bill is in committee in the House of Delegates. Introduced January 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House of Delegates.

Prognosis

Stalled 14% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

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.

In plain language

The bill changes how lost profits are calculated in eminent domain cases for waterworks systems.

This bill requires that when a locality takes a waterworks system through eminent domain, lost profits must be calculated by comparing water service rates between the condemning authority and the original owner. It also allows for adjustments to the lost profits figure based on what is considered just and reasonable.

What this means for you
  • Small Business: Small businesses that rely on waterworks systems may see impacts on compensation if their systems are taken through eminent domain.

Summary

Eminent domain; condemnation of public waterworks systems; determination of lost profits. Requires the body determining just compensation in a condemnation proceeding initiated by a locality for the taking of a waterworks system to consider in its determination of lost profits the difference between the rates, fees, and charges for water service provided by (i) the condemning locality or authority and (ii) the owner on the date of valuation. The bill requires, upon the petition of any party or upon the request of the court, that such determination of lost profits be commensurately reduced to the extent that the body determining just compensation and the court find to be just and reasonable.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

12 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 25.1-230.1.

  • 25.1-230.1

    H. In any condemnation of a waterworks system or any portion thereof pursuant to Chapter

    Inserts “H. In any condemnation of a waterworks system or any portion thereof pursuant to Chapter”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    19.1 (§ 15.2-1908 et seq.) of Title 15.2

    Inserts “19.1 (§ 15.2-1908 et seq.) of Title 15.2”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    or

    Inserts “or”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    § 15.2-2146

    Inserts “§ 15.2-2146”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    where the owner seeks to recover lost profits in accordance with the provisions of this section, the body determining the just compensation shall, in determi

    Inserts “where the owner seeks to recover lost profits in accordance with the provisions of this section, the body determining the just compensation shall, in determi”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    ning the amount of any such lost profits, consider the difference between the rates, fees, and charges lawfully in effect for water service provided by

    Inserts “ning the amount of any such lost profits, consider the difference between the rates, fees, and charges lawfully in effect for water service provided by”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    the

    Inserts “the”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    (i) condemning locality or authority and (ii)

    Inserts “(i) condemning locality or authority and (ii)”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    owner on the date of valuation.

    Inserts “owner on the date of valuation.”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    Upon the petition of any party or upon request of the court, the

    Inserts “Upon the petition of any party or upon request of the court, the”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    determination of lost profits in a proceeding pursuant to this section shall be commensurately reduced to the extent that the body determining just compensation and the court

    Inserts “determination of lost profits in a proceeding pursuant to this section shall be commensurately reduced to the extent that the body determining just compensation and the court”.

  • 25.1-230.1

    find to be just and reasonable.

    Inserts “find to be just and reasonable.”.

Action History

  1. Continued from last session

  2. Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)

  3. Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

  4. Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

  5. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  6. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104000D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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

Subjects

public-safety housing environment
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 HB 421 do?
Eminent domain; condemnation of public waterworks systems; determination of lost profits. Requires the body determining just compensation in a condemnation proceeding initiated by a locality for the taking of a waterworks system to consider in its determination of lost profits the difference between the rates, fees, and charges for water service provided by (i) the condemning locality or authority and (ii) the owner on the date of valuation. The bill requires, upon the petition of any party or upon the request of the court, that such determination of lost profits be commensurately reduced to the extent that the body determining just compensation and the court find to be just and reasonable.
Who sponsors HB 421?
HB 421 is sponsored by Nicole Cole.
What is the current status of HB 421?
This bill is in committee in the House of Delegates. Introduced January 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 421?
Track HB 421 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 421

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 421

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →