HB1189 • 2026

State of preparedness; feasibility & impact of program to prioritize prevention/mitigation, etc.

An Act to direct the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency; report.

Taxes

Enacted

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

Sponsor: O'Quinn
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that the bill affects governor and state committees directly, only that it reports findings to them.

Emergency Preparedness Program Assessment

This act requires the Department of Emergency Management to study how to prevent or reduce damage from emergencies that do not need a full state of emergency declaration and report back by November 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Tells the Department of Emergency Management to look at ways to stop or lessen harm before an emergency happens.
Requires the department to suggest how much it would cost to deal with these smaller emergencies.
Says the department must report their findings and ideas by November 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Emergency Management

Terms To Know

state of preparedness: A condition declared by the Governor to help prepare for a possible emergency or disaster.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say how much money will be given for this study.
It is unclear if the report will lead to new laws or programs.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 455 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-08 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0455)
2026-04-01 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1189)
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 House
Enrolled
2026-03-30 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1189ER)
2026-03-11 House
Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-03-10 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute
2026-03-10 General Laws and Technology
General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to
2026-03-10 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-09 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-02-26 General Laws and Technology
Committee substitute printed 26108558D-S1
2026-02-26 General Laws and Technology
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1189)
2026-02-25 General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-24 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time
2026-02-16 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-16 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-15 House
Read first time
2026-02-13 Public Safety
Reported from Public Safety with substitute (20-Y 0-N)
2026-02-13 Public Safety
Committee substitute printed 26107910D-H1
2026-02-13 Public Safety
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1189)
2026-02-12 Subcommittee #2
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-10 Subcommittee #2
Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
2026-01-19 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1189)
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104964D
2026-01-14 Public Safety
Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Department of Emergency Management; state of preparedness; report.
Directs the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency. The Department of Emergency Management shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to direct the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. As used in this act, "state of preparedness" means the condition declared by the Governor when, in his judgment, the threat or danger of a credible emergency or a disaster in any part of the Commonwealth is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant disaster preparedness assistance by the Commonwealth to supplement the preparedness efforts and pre-position available resources of the several localities and relief organizations in order to prevent or alleviate the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering threatened or caused thereby.
§ 2. That the Department of Emergency Management (the Department) shall assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness, or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency. In conducting the assessment, the Department shall evaluate and develop recommendations for the following:
1. Criteria for determining whether an emergency situation warrants a response from the Department when such emergency does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency;
2. Procedures for the procurement, maintenance, and replenishment of materials, equipment, and supplies, in such quantities and at such locations as the Department may deem necessary to ensure readiness and to preserve the lives, property, and economic well-being of the people of the Commonwealth prior to and during an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency;
3. The feasibility of seeking reimbursement from any person causing or contributing to an emergency or disaster for expenses incurred by the Department for the protection, relief, and recovery from loss or damage caused by such person; and
4. Cost estimates, including personnel, administrative, and equipment expenses that will be incurred by the Department, or by any other state agency or political subdivision or other entity, in and for responding to an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency.
§ 3. That the Department shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on Appropriations no later than November 1, 2026.