VirginiaBill would limit local penalties for unhoused people in public
The proposed rule would bar Virginia localities from penalizing people without an adequate nighttime home for basic survival activities in public, unless those activities create a traffic hazard.
What it does
A locality could not penalize an unhoused person for sleeping, resting, or other basic survival activities in a public place because of their housing status, unless the activity creates a traffic hazard.
Argument forUnhoused people could avoid local penalties for basic survival activities in public when those activities do not create a traffic hazard.
Argument againstLocalities might have fewer ways to penalize unhoused people for using public places when their survival activities create no traffic hazard.
More detail
A locality could not impose a civil or criminal penalty on an unhoused person for basic survival activities in a public place because of that person’s actual or perceived unhoused status. This covers people of any age who lack a fixed, regular, or adequate place to sleep at night, including people who meet the federal definition of homeless. Public places include a legally parked car in a public place. The activities must not obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic in a way that creates a hazard to others.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
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
- Feb 6Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Feb 5Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
- Feb 5House subcommittee offered
- Jan 28Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3Minor
- Jan 22Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Jan 22Presented and ordered printed 26103925DIntroduced
HousingCriminal Justice