HB1010 • 2026

School crossing zones; large children's sports complexes, Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia).

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-873 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school crossing zones; large children's sports complexes; Planning District 8.</p>

Children Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Tran
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on how local governments can set lower speed limits in vulnerable pedestrian zones, only that they have the authority to designate such zones.

Expanding School Crossing Zones and Defining Large Children's Sports Complexes

This bill changes Virginia law to include areas around schools where students are present in the definition of school crossing zones, and it defines large children's sports complexes for Planning District 8.

What This Bill Does

Expands the area around schools that is considered a 'school crossing zone' to include places where both students and children need special protection from cars.
Defines what a 'large children's sports complex' is, which includes facilities primarily designed for youth sports with more than 150 enrolled participants.

Who It Names or Affects

Students and children who use school crossing zones.
Facilities that qualify as large children's sports complexes in Planning District 8.

Terms To Know

Vulnerable Pedestrian Zone: An area designated by local governments to protect people walking or biking from cars, especially around places where many children are present.
Large Children's Sports Complex: A facility primarily for youth sports with more than 150 enrolled participants.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much lower the speed limits can be set in these zones.
It is unclear if all local governments will choose to use this new authority to designate vulnerable pedestrian zones.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Transportation
2026-02-10 Innovations (Ad Hoc)
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 1-N)
2026-02-10 Innovations (Ad Hoc)
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-27 Innovations (Ad Hoc)
Assigned HTRAN sub: Innovations (Ad Hoc)
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104711D
2026-01-14 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

School crossing zones; large children's sports complexes; Planning District 8.
Expands the definition of "school crossing zone" to include areas surrounding schools where the presence of students, in addition to children, reasonably requires a special warning to motorists. The bill also defines "school" and provides that, in Planning District 8, the term "school" includes large children's sports complexes, defined in the bill. Existing provisions of law allowing photo speed monitoring devices to be installed in school crossing zones will apply to any location that meets the expanded definition.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL NO. 1010

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Transportation

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Tran)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
46.2-873.3
, relating to vulnerable pedestrian zones; speed limits.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
46.2-873.3
as follows:

§
46.2-873
.
3
. Maximum speed limit
in vulnerable pedestrian zones; local authority to set
.

A. For the purposes of this section,

"Child day center" means the same as that term is defined in §
22.1-289.02
.

"Large children's sports complex" means any facility that (i) is primarily designed for amateur and youth sports, (ii) has a program in which children or students enroll, and (iii) has more than 150 children or students enrolled in its program.

"
V
ulnerable pedestrian zone" means a
zone
so
designated by a locality pursuant to subsec
tion B.

B.
The governing body of a
ny locality may
by ordinance
designate any
highway, including those in the state highway system,
within its boundaries as a vulnerable pedestrian zone if
(i)
such highway
is
within 750 feet of the
property limits of a
child day center
facility
or large children's sports complex
, (ii) the

presence of children on or around such highways establishes a
potential safety risk,

and

(iii)
such child day center or large children's sports complex has
agreed to pay t
he
cost of placing signs as required pursuant to subsection D
.

C. The governing body of any locality may by ordinance reduce the speed limit
on any highway designated as a vulnerable pedestrian zone pursuant to subsection B
or
restore a speed limit that had been reduced pursuant to this subsection to the speed limit that had been previously posted at that location, provided that such reduced or restored speed limit is indicated by lawfully placed signs. At least 30 days prior to changing a speed limit on any highway in the state highway system pursuant to this sub
sect
ion, the governing body shall provide written notice of the change to the Commissioner of Highways. If any provision of this sub
sect
ion is inconsistent with the provisions of §
33.2-310
,
33.2-317
,
33.2-326
,
46.2-878
,
or
46.2-1300
this sub
sect
ion shall be controlling.

D. In addition to the speed limit signs required pursuant to subsection C,
the governing body shall post or cause to be posted
conspicuous signs within 500 feet of any vulnerable pedestrian zone
, indicating the presence of such a zone and the upcoming decrease in speed.
The costs of producing, placing, and maintaining these signs shall be paid by the child day center or large
children's sports complex located within such zone.