KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Virginia

HB1397 • 2026

Determining decibel level of sound with proper equipment; certificate as to accuracy of equipment.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-1112 and 19.2-270.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to determining decibel level of sound with proper equipment; certificate as to accuracy of equipment.</p>

Labor
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Franklin, M.A.
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether local government employees' measurements can be used directly as evidence in court without further certification or validation processes.

Using Proper Equipment to Measure Sound Levels

This bill allows local government employees who are trained to use proper equipment to measure sound levels, including noise.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that local government workers can use special equipment to measure how loud sounds are.
  • Requires these workers to be properly trained and for their equipment to meet certain standards set by a division in Virginia.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local government employees who measure sound levels

Terms To Know

decibel level
A way of measuring how loud a sound is.
prima facie evidence
Evidence that is accepted as true until proven otherwise in court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the equipment used by local government employees is found to be inaccurate.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect current noise enforcement practices.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Public Safety

  2. 2026-02-05 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (7-Y 0-N)

  3. 2026-02-03 Subcommittee #2

    Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2

  4. 2026-01-22 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26102702D

  5. 2026-01-22 Public Safety

    Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Determining decibel level of sound with proper equipment; certificate as to accuracy of equipment.
Allows a local government employee of any locality who is properly trained to use equipment deemed proper pursuant to relevant law to determine the decibel level of any sound, including noise. Under current law, only a law-enforcement officer may use such equipment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL to amend and reenact §§
2.2-1112
and
19.2-270.7
of the Code of Virginia, relating to determining decibel level of sound with proper equipment; certificate as to accuracy of equipment.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§
2.2-1112
and
19.2-270.7
of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§
2.2-1112
. Standardization of materials, equipment, and supplies.

A. So far as practicable, all materials, equipment
,
and supplies, purchased by or for the officers, departments, agencies
,
or institutions of the Commonwealth, shall be standardized by the Division, and no variation shall be allowed from any established standard without the written approval of the Division. The standard shall be determined upon the needs of all using agencies, so far as their needs are in common, and for groups of using agencies or single using agencies so far as their needs differ. When changes or alterations in equipment are necessary in order to permit the application of any standard, the changes and alterations shall be made as rapidly as possible.

B. The Division shall determine the proper equipment or electrical devices used to monitor the speed of any motor vehicle pursuant to §
46.2-882
and shall so advise the respective law-enforcement officials. Police chiefs and sheriffs shall ensure that all such equipment and devices meet or exceed the standards established by the Division. This subsection shall apply only to equipment and devices purchased on or after July 1, 1986.

C. The Division shall determine the proper equipment to be used to determine the decibel level of sound and shall so advise the respective law-enforcement officials. Police chiefs and sheriffs shall ensure that all such equipment and devices
, including those used by a
local government
employee of any locality who is properly trained in the use of such eq
uipment and devices,
meet or exceed the standards established by the Division and shall maintain, inspect, calibrate, and test for accuracy all such equipment and devices on a schedule and in accordance with standards established by the Division.

§
19.2-270.7
. Determining decibel level of sound with proper equipment; certificate as to accuracy of equipment.

A law-enforcement officer
, or
a
local government
employee of any locality who is properly trained,
may use equipment deemed proper pursuant to subsection C of §
2.2-1112
to determine the decibel level of any sound, including noise. The results of such determinations shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the decibel level of the sound in any court or legal proceeding where the decibel level of the sound is at issue.

In any court or legal proceeding in which any question arises about the calibration or accuracy of such equipment used to determine the decibel level of sound, a certificate, or a true copy thereof, showing the calibration or testing for accuracy of the equipment, and when and by whom the calibration or test was made, shall be admissible as evidence of the facts therein stated. No calibration or testing of such equipment shall be valid for longer than 12 months.