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SB87 • 2026

Local government sporting events and sporting facilities; automated external defibrillators.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-1808.1, relating to local government sporting events and sporting facilities; automated external defibrillators.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Stanley
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not provide specific details about indoor and outdoor facility requirements, only that AEDs must be available at local government sporting events and facilities. The official digest text also lacks these specifics.

Local Government Sporting Events Need AEDs

This law requires local governments to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at sporting events and facilities they run or sponsor.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires localities to ensure that operational AEDs are available during the operation of their sports facilities.
  • Localities must provide AEDs for any sporting event organized by them, whether it's held in a facility or elsewhere.
  • Indoor and outdoor facilities have different requirements based on size and number of attendees.
  • Each AED needs to be placed where people can easily find it, maintained properly, registered with local emergency services, and marked clearly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governments that run or sponsor sporting events and facilities.
  • People attending sports events at these locations.

Terms To Know

Automated external defibrillator (AED)
A device used to help restart a person's heart during sudden cardiac arrest.
Local government sporting event
An athletic or sports event organized by a local government.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law starts on July 1, 2028.
  • It does not specify what happens if a locality fails to follow the requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter481 (Effective 7/1/2028)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0481)

  3. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  4. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  5. 2026-03-05 House

    Signed by Speaker

  6. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Signed by President

  7. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Enrolled

  8. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB87ER)

  9. 2026-03-02 House

    Read third time

  10. 2026-03-02 House

    Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

  11. 2026-03-02 House

    Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

  12. 2026-03-02 House

    Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-27 House

    Read second time

  14. 2026-02-25 Appropriations

    Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

  15. 2026-02-23 General Government and Capital Outlay

    Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  16. 2026-02-23 Local Government

    Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (2/23/2026 10:48 am)

  17. 2026-02-20 Counties, Cities and Towns

    Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)

  18. 2026-02-19 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 0-N)

  19. 2026-02-17 House

    Placed on Calendar

  20. 2026-02-17 Counties, Cities and Towns

    Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

  21. 2026-02-17 Subcommittee #2

    Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2

  22. 2026-02-17 House

    Read first time

  23. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Read second time

  25. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  26. 2026-02-11 Local Government

    Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  27. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Rules suspended

  29. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  30. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  31. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  32. 2026-02-09 Local Government

    Reported from Local Government with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)

  33. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  34. 2026-02-09 Local Government

    Committee substitute printed 26106933D-S1

  35. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/14/2026 11:55 am)

  36. 2025-12-30 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102121D

  37. 2025-12-30 Local Government

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

Official Summary Text

Local government sporting events and sporting facilities; automated external defibrillators.
Requires localities to ensure that operational automated external defibrillators are available at local government sporting events and sporting facilities. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2028.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
15.2-1808.1
, relating to local government sporting events and sporting facilities; automated external defibrillators.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
15.2-1808.1
as follows:
§
15.2-1808.1
. Automated external defibrillators required at local government sporting events and sporting facilities.
A. For the purposes of this section:
"Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means the same as that term is defined in §
32.1-111.1
.
"Local government sporting event" means any athletic or sporting event organized or sponsored by a locality.
"Local government sporting facility" means the portions of any outdoor or indoor facility owned or operated by a locality that are being used for organized athletic or sporting activities.
B. Each locality shall ensure that operational automated external defibrillators are readily available at (i) every local government sporting facility during hours of operation and (ii) every local government sporting event, whether held at a local government sporting facility or elsewhere. Each locality shall develop a plan for the placement, care, and use of AEDs in every local government sporting facility to promote AED accessibility.
C. Indoor local government sporting facilities shall be required to have a minimum number of operational AEDs as follows:
1. Facilities under 10,000 square feet being used for organized athletic or sporting activities: one AED.
2. Facilities 10,000 to 30,000 square feet being used for organized athletic or sporting activities: two AEDs.
3. Facilities over 30,000 square feet being used for organized athletic or sporting activities: two AEDs, plus one additional AED for every 20,000 square feet.
D. Outdoor local government sporting facilities shall be required to have a minimum number of operational AEDs as follows:
1. Facilities under five acres being used for organized athletic or sporting activities: one AED.
2. Facilities five to 15 acres being used for organized athletic or sporting activities: two AEDs.
3. Facilities over 15 acres being used for organized athletic or sporting activities: two AEDs, plus one additional AED for every 10 acres.
E. For local government sporting events held at locations other than local government sporting facilities, a minimum number of operational AEDs shall be required as follows:
1. Events with under 500 attendees: one AED.
2. Events with 500 to 2,000 attendees: two AEDs.
3. Events with over 2,000 attendees: two AEDs, plus one additional AED for every 1,000 attendees.
F. Each AED shall be (i) located in a clearly marked and publicly accessible location, (ii) properly maintained and tested according to manufacturer's specifications, (iii) registered with the local emergency medical services agency, and (iv) accompanied by appropriate signage indicating its location.
2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2028.