Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards, owner unknown.
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 57 a section numbered 57-39.1:2, relating to cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards; owner unknown.” Read the full text
2026 session
What it does
Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards; owner unknown. Permits the owner of adjacent land or an incorporated nonprofit entity to petition the circuit court for an exclusive license to maintain a graveyard that has been abandoned, is unused and neglected by the owner, and the owner of such graveyard is unknown, or cannot with reasonable diligence be found. The bill requires the petitioner to (i) demonstrate a good faith effort to identify and contact an owner of record of th
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Introduced · Jan 14, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter 278 (latest official status)
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.
The numbers
6
sponsors on the bill
Sponsors
Briana D. SewellGretchen M. BulovaMichelle Lopes MaldonadoLuke E. TorianNadarius E. ClarkJackie H. Glass
Recorded votes
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-09 · P · Y 40
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate · 2026-03-06 · P · X 40
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-06 · P · Y 39, X 1
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)Senate · 2026-03-04 · P · Y 15
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-04 · P · Y 98, X 2
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-04 · P · Y 97, X 2, N 1
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)House of Delegates · 2026-01-29 · P · Y 21, X 1
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)House of Delegates · 2026-01-27 · P · Y 9, X 1
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Virginia legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter 278.