SB635 • 2026

State of preparedness; feasibility & impact of program to prioritize prevention/mitigation, etc.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to direct the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency; report.</p>

Budget Taxes Technology

Enacted

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

Sponsor: McDougle
Last action: 2026-03-04
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details on how the assessment will be funded or what actions will follow after the report is submitted.

Emergency Preparedness Program Assessment

This bill requires the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of a program that prioritizes prevention and mitigation efforts for emergencies that do not require a state of emergency declaration, and report back by November 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Directs the Department of Emergency Management to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize prevention and mitigation efforts for imminent emergencies that do not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency.
Requires the department to develop criteria for determining when an emergency situation warrants a response from the department without requiring a governor's declaration.
Instructs the department to evaluate procedures for procuring, maintaining, and replenishing materials, equipment, and supplies necessary for readiness before and during imminent emergencies.
Assesses the feasibility of seeking reimbursement from individuals or entities causing or contributing to an emergency for expenses incurred by the Department.
Estimates costs associated with responding to emergencies that do not warrant a state of emergency declaration.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Emergency Management
Governor
Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations, General Laws and Technology
House Committee on Appropriations

Terms To Know

State of Preparedness: A condition declared by the Governor to help prepare for a possible emergency or disaster.
Gubernatorial Declaration: An official statement made by the governor declaring a state of preparedness or emergency.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be allocated for this assessment.
It is unclear if and when the report's recommendations will be implemented.
There are no details on what actions will follow after the department submits its findings.

Bill History

2026-03-04 Appropriations
Tabled in Appropriations (17-Y 5-N)
2026-03-01 Transportation & Public Safety
Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
2026-02-27 Public Safety
Reported from Public Safety and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-26 Subcommittee #2
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (6-Y 1-N)
2026-02-24 Subcommittee #2
Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
2026-02-20 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-20 Public Safety
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-02-20 House
Read first time
2026-02-17 Finance and Appropriations
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB635)
2026-02-17 Finance and Appropriations
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB635)
2026-02-16 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-16 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-16 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-16 Senate
Blank Action
2026-02-16 Finance and Appropriations
Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
2026-02-16 Senate
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-13 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-13 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 Finance and Appropriations
Committee substitute printed 26108007D-S1
2026-02-12 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-11 General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-01-26 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB635)
2026-01-14 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104966D
2026-01-14 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

Official Summary Text

Department of Emergency Management; state of preparedness; report.
Directs the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency. The Department of Emergency Management shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL NO. 635

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations

on February 12, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator McDougle)

A BILL to direct the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.

As used in this
a
ct, "state of preparedness" means the condition declared by the Governor when
,
in
his
judgment
,
the threat or danger of a credible emergency or a disaster in any part of the Commonwealth is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant disaster preparedness assistance by the Commonwealth to supplement the preparedness efforts and pre-position available resources of the several localities and relief organizations in
order to
prevent or alleviat
e
the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering threatened or caused thereby.

§ 2.
That th
e Department of Emergency Management (the Department) shall

assess the feasibility and impact of
developing a program to
prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impa
cts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness, or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency.
In conducting the assessment, the Department shall
evaluate an
d develop recommendations for
the following:

1.

Criteria for determining whether an emergency situation
warrants a response from the Department when such emergency does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency;

2.
Procedures for the procurement, maintenance, and replenishment of materials, equipment, and supplies, in such quantities and at such location
s
as the Department may deem necessary to ensure readiness and to preserve the lives
,
property
,
and economic well-being of the people of the Commonwealth prior to and during an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency
;

3
.
The feasibility of seeking reimbursement
from any person causing or contributing to an emergency or disaster for
expenses incurred
by the Department
for the protection, relief, and recovery from loss or damage caused by such person;
and

4. C
ost estimates, including personnel, administrative, and equipment
expenses that will be incurred by the Department
,
or by any other state agency or political subdivision or other entity
, in and for responding to an emergency that does not warrant a
gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency.

§ 3. That
the Department shall submit a report on
its
findings
and recommendations
to the
Governor and the
Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on Appropriations no later than November 1, 2026.