January 30th General Assembly Update

VBF President John Hamilton advocates for HB661 before the House Transportation Subcommittee on Highway Safety and Policy on January 28, 2026

Current status of HB661 as of February 26, 2026:  HB661 was filed by Delegate Rodney Willett (D, HD-58) on January 13, and the House of Delegates passed it unanimously (98Y-0N-0A) on February 9.  On February 26, HB661 was reported 13Y-1N by the Senate Transportation Committee and re-referred to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.

On January 28th, Delegate Willett’s Omnibus Bicyclists’ Safety Bill, HB661, unanimously passed the House Transportation Subcommittee on Highway Safety and Policy (8Y-0N).  Thanks to everyone who provided written comments and/or spoke in support.  Special shout out to City of Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley for speaking in support.  Shout out and thanks to Delegate Rodney Willett who was awesome in his presentation to the subcommittee!

We anticipate that the Senate Transportation Committee may be a challenge for HB661 in mid February.  That committee is where bicycling safety bills have faltered or failed entirely in past years.  Our goal in the days ahead is to engage with and win support from as many Senate Transportation Committee members as possible.

Next steps for HB661:  The bill will next be heard in the full House Transportation Committee, which meets next at 9 am, Tuesday, Feb 3.  If successful there, it will be voted on in the full House, likely late in the week.

Updates on other key House bills:

Delegate Carr’s Bicycle Traffic Signals bill, HB812, also unanimously passed the same House Transportation subcommittee (8Y-0N) and should proceed smoothly going forward.  Shout out to John Bolececk and John Hamilton for critical last minute language updates for an HB812 substitute that the subcommittee adopted and reported.

Delegate Reid asked that his Motorized Mobility Vehicles bill, HB269, pass by for the week.  He had invited and received feedback from VBF and other organizations and indicated that he needed another week to develop a substitute HB269.  We expect HB269 will be heard in the House Transportation Subcommittee on Department of Motor Vehicles, which meets next 8 am, Tuesday, Feb 3.

Delegate JJ Singh’s Stakeholder Workgroup bill for Motorized Mobility Vehicles, HB1120, provides VBF’s preferred approach for identifying solutions to e-moto issues.  This bill is expected to be heard in its House Transportation subcommittee, which meets next 4 pm, Wednesday, Feb 4.

Delegate Tran’s HB1012 achieved a modicum of success despite failing to report from subcommittee.  The subcommittee recommended that the House Transportation Chair send a letter to VDOT requesting solutions for clearing snow from VDOT-owned sidewalks and crosswalks near schools in Planning District 8 (NoVA).

Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra has introduced a “Idaho Stop” bill, HB1417, to allow only pedal bicyclists to roll through red lights, stops signs and yield signs.  HB1417 would not allow riders of e-bikes and other devices to use these provisions. We may have more to say about this bill next week.

Updates about key Senate bills:

Senator Peake has requested that his traffic-enforcement camera ‘repeal’ bills, SB297 and SB306, pass by until Monday in the full Senate.  These bills would repeal authority for jurisdictions to use cameras for speed or traffic signal enforcement.  Senator Peake indicated that he needed more time to work with stakeholders on substitute bill language.

Speed Safety Camera (SSC) bills have met strong headwinds, with Senator Aird taking a leading role in opposing most SSC bills in the Senate Transportation Committee.  That said,…

• Sen. Michael Jones’ SB221 is enabling legislation that provides jurisdictions with an option to expand SSC operation for up to 60 minutes prior to and after school dismissal and arrival, rather than limited to 30 minutes before and after.  SB221 passed the committee 15Y-0N.
• Sen. Kannan Srinivasan’s SB832 would direct VDOT to identify vulnerable road user (VRU) safety zones and directs the Commissioner of Highways to place automated traffic enforcement systems in those zones.  SB832 reported from the committee and was rereferred to Senate Finance and Appropriations 8Y-7N.  Sen Aird voted NO, but Sen Diggs voted YEA, allowing the bill to report and be rereferred on a bi-partison basis.

Action Look Ahead:

• If not already done, contact Senators serving on the Senate Transportation Committee to support HB661; namely, Bagby (Chair), Marsden, DeSteph, Suetterlein, Boysko, Hackworth, Sturtevant, Aird, Roem, Diggs, Pekarsky, Mulchi, Srinivasan, Cifers, Jones.
• Be on the lookout for additional updates and action alerts next week!

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Questions or comments?
Contact the VBF Advocacy Committee at 703-508-0762 or vbfadvocacycommittee@gmail.com