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HJ56 • 2026

599 funding; effects of revising distribution to distressed localities with high crime rates, etc.

<p class=ldtitle>Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates. Report.</p>

Budget Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Pope Adams
Last action
2026-02-06
Official status
Continued
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify a deadline for submitting findings and recommendations, but it is implied that the summary must be submitted before the start of the 2027 Regular Session.

Study on Changing Funding for Struggling Areas

This bill asks JLARC to study how changing the distribution of 599 funding might help distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates.

What This Bill Does

  • Tells the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates.
  • Requires JLARC to examine recent allocations of 599 funds from appropriation acts.
  • Asks JLARC to confer with distressed localities to determine if they need additional 599 funding.
  • JLARC must complete its meetings by November 30, 2026, and submit a summary of findings before the start of the 2027 Regular Session.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
  • Distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates
  • Agencies of the Commonwealth

Terms To Know

599 funding
A type of financial support given to eligible local areas.
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
An organization that studies government operations and policies in Virginia.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the distribution of 599 funding should be revised.
  • It is unclear what specific changes to the distribution formula will be recommended by JLARC.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-06 Rules

    Continued to 2027 in Rules (Voice Vote)

  2. 2026-02-02 Studies Subcommittee

    Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)

  3. 2026-01-30 Studies Subcommittee

    Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

  4. 2026-01-16 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26105087D

  5. 2026-01-16 Rules

    Referred to Committee on Rules

Official Summary Text

Study; JLARC; potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates; report.
Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates. Report.

WHEREAS, the Code of Virginia sets out a distribution formula for calculating the amount of 599 funds distributed to eligible localities; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, the General Assembly has instead specified in the appropriation act that localities' allocations in a given fiscal year are to be based on a standard, across-the-board percentage increase or decrease; and

WHEREAS, the distribution formula has, in effect, been superseded during those years by the instructions in the appropriation act; and

WHEREAS, distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates would benefit from additional 599 funding; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall (i) examine the recent allocations of 599 funding provided for in the appropriation act, (ii) confer with distressed localities to determine the necessity of additional 599 funding, and (iii) determine the effect on crime and poverty rates in localities that receive additional funding.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2026, and the chair shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.