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HB219 • 2026

Kei vehicles; operation and requirements.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-2028, 46.2-100, 46.2-600, 46.2-752, and 46.2-754 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-730.2, by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-818.3, by adding in Chapter 13 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-1316, and by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 15 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-1507.1, relating to kei vehicles; operation and requirements.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Feggans
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
Continued
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text and digest do not provide specific details on penalties for violating driving restrictions or costs associated with licensing and registration.

Rules for Kei Vehicles

This bill sets rules for kei vehicles, including where they can be driven and how they should be licensed.

What This Bill Does

  • Kei vehicles cannot drive on highways with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or higher.
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles will handle licensing and registration for kei vehicles.
  • Local governments cannot put extra restrictions on kei vehicles.
  • Motor vehicle dealers are not responsible if a kei vehicle does not meet federal safety rules.
  • The State Air Pollution Control Board must create emissions inspection standards for kei vehicles.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own or drive kei vehicles
  • Local governments and motor vehicle dealers

Terms To Know

Kei Vehicle
A small car made in Japan, often used for city driving.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
The agency that handles vehicle registration and driver's licenses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear what happens if someone breaks the rules about where kei vehicles can drive.
  • The bill does not say how much it will cost to license or register a kei vehicle.
  • There are no details on when new regulations for safety inspections of kei vehicles will be made.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB219AHC1

2026-01-27

Transportation Amendment

Plain English: The amendment removes specific sections and changes a number in the bill text related to kei vehicles.

  • Removes all of lines 671 through 675 from the bill.
  • Changes '55' to '60' at line 662.
  • The exact content and impact of removed lines cannot be determined without seeing those specific lines.
HB219AHC2

2026-01-27 • Committee

Department of Motor Vehicles Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment removes specific sections from the bill related to kei vehicles and changes a numerical value within the text.

  • Removes all content in line 671 through 675 of the introduced version of HB219.
  • Changes a number from '55' to '60' at line 662.
  • The amendment does not provide context for what was removed or why, making it hard to understand the full impact without reviewing the original lines 671 through 675.
  • Without seeing the surrounding text, it's unclear how changing '55' to '60' at line 662 affects the overall meaning of the bill.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 Transportation

    Continued to 2027 in Transportation (Voice Vote)

  2. 2026-01-27 Department of Motor Vehicles

    Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)

  3. 2026-01-27 Department of Motor Vehicles

    House subcommittee offered

  4. 2026-01-27 Department of Motor Vehicles

    House subcommittee offered

  5. 2026-01-19 Department of Motor Vehicles

    Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles

  6. 2026-01-08 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102963D

  7. 2026-01-08 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Kei vehicles; operation and requirements.
Prohibits kei vehicles, as defined in the bill, from being operated on any limited access highway, interstate highway, or highway with a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or more. The bill provides for the licensing and registration of kei vehicles by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill prohibits localities from placing certain restrictions on kei vehicles and prohibits the imposition of liability for motor vehicle dealers for any damages that are directly or indirectly attributable to the sale of a kei vehicle that was not manufactured in accordance with federal safety standards. The bill directs the State Air Pollution Control Board to develop and adopt emissions inspection standards for kei vehicles and directs the Superintendent of State Police to promulgate any regulations necessary for conducting safety inspections of kei vehicles.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 219

SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Line 662, introduced, after
of

strike

55

insert

60

SUBCOMMITTEE

2. Line 671, introduced

strike

all of lines 671 through 675