VirginiaVirginia would allow Fort Whitworth transfer to a battlefield foundation
With state approval, Virginia could give Fort Whitworth land to the Petersburg Battlefields Foundation, which would have to offer permanent historic protections.
What it does
Virginia would be allowed to give Fort Whitworth land to the Petersburg Battlefields Foundation without payment. The Governor or the Secretary of Administration, acting with delegated authority, would need to approve.
Within one year of receiving the land, the Petersburg Battlefields Foundation would have to offer permanent historic protections. The Board of Historic Resources could reject the offer.
Argument forIf the Board accepts the preservation agreement, permanent protections could help keep Fort Whitworth's historic features intact over time.
Argument againstGiving the property away could mean Virginia gives up money it might otherwise receive from selling the land.
More detail
Virginia's Department of General Services would be allowed to give the Fort Whitworth parcel to the Petersburg Battlefields Foundation. The land is part of Tax Map Parcel 10-7 at Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie County. It may include existing parking at the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and Accomac Street. The Governor would need to approve the transfer or delegate that approval to the Secretary of Administration. The Foundation would pay no money and would receive the property in its current condition. The transfer would use a quitclaim deed, which passes along the state's ownership interest, in a form approved by the Attorney General.
The Petersburg Battlefields Foundation would have to offer the Board of Historic Resources a historic preservation easement, a legal agreement permanently protecting the property. This requirement would apply to the land the Foundation receives through the transfer. The Board could accept or reject the offer. If the Board accepts, the Foundation would have to grant the easement and meet any requirements the Board sets. The Foundation would have to submit a complete application offering the easement within one year of the land transfer.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 21Continued from last sessionLatest
- Mar 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB326)
- Mar 6Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- Mar 4Committee substitute printed 26108473D-S1Major
- Mar 3Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Mar 3Senate committee offered
- Feb 18Rereferred from Courts of Justice to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (12-Y 0-N)Minor
- Feb 4Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 4Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 3Read third time and passed House (96-Y 2-N 0-A)Passed House
- Feb 3Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
- Feb 2Read second time and engrossedMinor
- Jan 30Read first timeMinor
- Jan 29Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB326)
- Jan 28Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Jan 22Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB326)
- Jan 22Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB326)
- Jan 21Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
- Jan 19Assigned HACNR sub: Natural ResourcesMinor
- Jan 11Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural ResourcesMinor
- Jan 11Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103354DIntroduced
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