HB1480 • 2026

Unpaved secondary highway funds; increases maximum annual allocation.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 33.2-359 of the Code of Virginia, relating to unpaved secondary highway funds; maximum annual allocation.</p>

Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about specific allocation methods or requirements for collaboration between local governments and the Department.

Increasing Funds for Unpaved Secondary Highways

This bill increases the maximum amount of money available each year from $25 million to $50 million for improving unpaved secondary highways in Virginia.

What This Bill Does

Increases the yearly limit on funds available for improving unpaved secondary roads from $25 million to $50 million.

Who It Names or Affects

The Commonwealth Transportation Board, which decides how much money goes towards improving unpaved secondary highways.
Local governing bodies that select specific roads for improvement in their counties.

Terms To Know

Commonwealth Transportation Board: A group responsible for managing transportation projects and funding in Virginia.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the additional funds will be used or what improvements they will support.
It is unclear if there are enough unpaved secondary highways to use all of the increased funding.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Transportation
2026-02-03 Transportation Infrastructure and Funding
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)
2026-01-29 Transportation Infrastructure and Funding
Assigned HTRAN sub: Transportation Infrastructure and Funding
2026-01-23 House
Presented and ordered printed 26105606D
2026-01-23 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Unpaved secondary highway funds; maximum annual allocation.
Increases the maximum total annual allocation made by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for certain unpaved secondary highways from $25 million to $50 million.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
33.2-359
of the Code of Virginia, relating to unpaved secondary highway funds; maximum annual allocation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
33.2-359
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
33.2-359
. Unpaved secondary highway funds.

A. Funds from the highway construction district grant programs established pursuant to §
33.2-371
shall be allocated for the improvement of nonsurface treated secondary highways that carry 50 or more vehicles per day. Such improvement may consist of enhancements to such highway or highway segment other than paving, such as improved materials, drainage upgrades, or enhanced design of the highway profile. Other techniques shall be considered improvements if they increase safety, reduce maintenance costs, or enhance the historic qualities of the highway or highway segment. Funds shall be deducted from the allocation made to each highway construction district pursuant to subsection D of §
33.2-371
and such deduction shall be based on the ratio of nonsurface treated secondary highways in each highway construction district that carry 50 or more vehicles per day to the total number of such nonsurface treated secondary highways in the Commonwealth.

Total funds of the Commonwealth allocated by the Board under this section shall not exceed
$25 million
$50 million
annually.

B. Such funds shall be distributed to counties in the secondary state highway system based on the ratio of nonsurface treated roads in each county carrying 50 vehicles or more per day to the total number of such nonsurface treated roads in the Commonwealth. The local governing body of the county shall select the highways or highway segments to be improved pursuant to this section, after consulting with the Department. Improvements pursuant to this section shall be designed and implemented utilizing project standards that conform to then-existing federal and state requirements and standards and, if no such standards exist, that conform to standards as mutually agreed upon by the Department and the locality.