SB153 • 2026

Tazewell, Town of; amending charter, residency requirement for town manager.

An Act to amend and reenact § 3-91 of Chapter 358 of the Acts of Assembly of 1958, which provided a charter for the Town of Tazewell in Tazewell County, relating to town manager.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Hackworth
Last action: 2026-03-31
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify what constitutes a 'reasonable distance' or provide details on how exceptions to residency will be handled in practice.

Amending Tazewell Town Charter for Town Manager Residency

This act changes the residency requirement for the town manager of Tazewell, allowing them to live outside the town limits with council approval.

What This Bill Does

Removes the strict residency requirement for the town manager in Tazewell.
Encourages the town manager to reside within the town limits but allows exceptions if approved by a majority of the town council.

Who It Names or Affects

The Town Manager of Tazewell, Virginia
Tazewell Town Council

Terms To Know

Charter: A document that outlines the basic laws and rules for a town or city.
Town Manager: The person who runs the day-to-day operations of a town government.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what 'reasonable distance' means outside the town limits.
Does not provide details on how exceptions to residency will be handled in practice.

Bill History

2026-03-31 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 15 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-31 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0015)
2026-03-10 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-02-18 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-02-18 Senate
Signed by President
2026-02-18 Senate
Enrolled
2026-02-18 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB153ER)
2026-02-16 House
Read third time
2026-02-16 House
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-15 House
Read second time
2026-02-13 Counties, Cities and Towns
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (21-Y 0-N)
2026-02-03 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-03 House
Read first time
2026-02-03 Counties, Cities and Towns
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
2026-01-22 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-21 Senate
Read second time
2026-01-21 Senate
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-20 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-01-20 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-01-20 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-20 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-19 Local Government
Reported from Local Government (15-Y 0-N)
2026-01-07 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101170D
2026-01-07 Local Government
Referred to Committee on Local Government

Official Summary Text

Charter; Town of Tazewell.
Amends the charter for the Town of Tazewell in Tazewell County to remove the strict residency requirement for the town manager. The bill provides that the town manager is encouraged to reside within the town limits and may reside within a reasonable distance outside the town limits upon majority approval of town council. This bill is identical to HB 62.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
3-91
of Chapter 358 of the Acts of Assembly of 1958, which provided a charter for the Town of Tazewell in Tazewell County, relating to town manager.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
3-91
of Chapter 358 of the Acts of Assembly of 1958 is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
3-91
. A Town Manager who shall be the administrative and executive head of the municipal government.
He
The Town Manager
shall be chosen by the council without regard to political beliefs and solely upon the basis of
his
such person's
executive and administrative qualifications. At the time of
his
such official's
appointment
he
the Town Manager
need not be a resident of the town or the Commonwealth but during
his
such official's
tenure of office
shall reside within the town
is encouraged to reside within the town limits and may reside within a reasonable distance outside the town limits upon a majority approval of the appointing council
.
He
The Town Manager
shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by the council by ordinance or resolution
. He
and
may be bonded as the council may deem necessary. During the absence or disability of the
town manager
Town Manager
or in case of a vacancy
,
the council may designate some properly qualified person to perform the duties of the office during such absence, disability, or vacancy. No
councilman
member of council
shall receive such appointment during the term for which
he shall have been
the member is
elected, nor within one year after the expiration of
his
such
term. Neither the council nor any of the members shall direct or request the appointment, as hereinafter provided, of any person to office by the
town manager
Town Manager
or by any of
his
the Town Manager's
subordinates. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the
town manager
Town Manager
and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the
town manager
Town Manager
, either publicly or privately. The
town manager
Town Manager
shall have the authority and
it shall be his
duty: