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SB287 • 2026

State Police, Department of, Executive Protection Division; security and transportation duties.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 52-6.2, relating to Virginia State Police; Executive Protection Division; security and transportation duties.</p>

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Aird
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
Continued
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify conditions related to an 'open position' for the Governor.

Virginia State Police; Executive Protection Division Security Duties

This bill adds a new section in Virginia law that requires the Executive Protection Division of the Virginia Department of State Police to provide security and transportation for individuals designated by the Constitution as potential successors to the Governor's office if there is an open position.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new part in Virginia's laws about the duties of the Executive Protection Division within the Virginia State Police.
  • Requires this division to protect and transport individuals named by the Constitution who could become Governor in case of a vacancy.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Executive Protection Division of the Virginia State Police
  • Individuals designated by the Virginia Constitution who could become Governor in case of a vacancy

Terms To Know

Executive Protection Division
A part of the Virginia Department of State Police responsible for providing security to high-ranking officials.
Constitutional Successors
People named in the Constitution who can take over as Governor if something happens to the current Governor.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many people are designated by the Constitution for this role.
  • It is unclear what specific security measures or transportation methods will be used under this new law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Finance and Appropriations

    Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  2. 2026-02-06 Courts of Justice

    Committee substitute printed 26107184D-S1

  3. 2026-02-04 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N)

  4. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  5. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101908D

  6. 2026-01-13 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Department of State Police; Executive Protection Division; security and transportation duties.
Provides that the Executive Protection Division of the Virginia Department of State Police shall have a duty to provide security and transportation to those persons designated by the Constitution of Virginia to succeed to the office of the Governor should a vacancy exist.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL NO. 287

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice

on February 4, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Aird)

A BILL to amend and reenact §
30-34.2:1
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Division of Capitol Police; provision of security to certain individuals.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
30-34.2:1
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
30-34.2:1
. Powers, duties, and functions of Capitol Police.

A. The Capitol Police may exercise within the limits of the Capitol Square, when assigned to any other property owned, leased, or controlled by the Commonwealth or any agency, department, institution, or commission thereof, and pursuant to the provisions of §§
15.2-1724
,
15.2-1726
, and
15.2-1728
all the powers, duties, and functions that are exercised by the police of the city or the police or sheriff of the county within which such property is located.

B. The jurisdiction of the Capitol Police shall further extend 300 feet beyond the boundary of any property they are required to protect, such jurisdiction to be concurrent with that of other law-enforcement officers of the locality in which such property is located.

C. The Capitol Police shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with law-enforcement officers of the City of Richmond. In addition, a Capitol Police officer who is a detector canine handler shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the law-enforcement officers of any city or county that has requested the assistance of the Capitol Police in the detection of firearms, ammunition, explosives, propellants, or incendiaries.

D. In any case involving the theft or misappropriation of the personal property of any member or employee of the General Assembly, the Capitol Police shall have concurrent jurisdiction with law-enforcement officers of any county contiguous to the City of Richmond. Members of the Capitol Police when assigned to accompany the Governor or Governor-elect, members of the Governor's family, the Lieutenant Governor or Lieutenant Governor-elect, the Attorney General or Attorney General-elect, members of the General Assembly, or members of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals of Virginia,

when providing security
to the individuals described in subsection G,
or when directed to serve a summons issued by the Clerk of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Delegates, a joint committee or commission thereof, or any committee of either house
,
shall be vested with all the powers and authority of a law-enforcement officer of any city or county in which they are required to be. All members of the Capitol Police shall be subject to the provisions of §
2.2-1202.1
and Chapter 5 (§
9.1-500
et seq.) of Title 9.1.

E. The assignment of jurisdiction to any property pursuant to this section shall be approved by the Legislative Support Commission.

F. The Division of Capitol Police shall have the authority to enter into contracts or agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties.

G.
The
Division of Capitol Police shall
accompany the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney
General, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the President pro t
empore of the Senate
for the purpose of providing security to each such individual, unless
any such individual waive
s
such
security
for himself.