Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 228: Localities; liability insurance, certain waiver of sovereign immunity.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 228 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 10, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Localities; liability insurance, certain waiver of sovereign immunity. Primary sponsor: Scott Surovell (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 12, 2026): Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Localities; liability insurance; certain waiver of sovereign immunity. Provides that a locality or political subdivision may provide liability insurance, including self-insurance, to cover damages or other expenses in certain civil actions arising out of an act or omission of certain officers, employees, board or commission members, or volunteers while such person is acting within the scope of his official duties. The bill provides that the provision of such liability insurance or self-insurance shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity in an amount not to exceed the combined total of any self-insurance coverage, insurance coverage under a group self-insurance pool, or any coverage pursuant to a policy purchased from an insurance company, including any excess or reserve coverage. The bill also provides that the insurer or self-insured shall not have a duty to defend or indemnify any covered person in cases where the act or omission took place outside the scope of such covered person's employment or official duties, where such act or omission was done maliciously or occurred as a result of gross negligence or willful misconduct, or is otherwise excluded by the terms of the policy.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Surovell | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 34 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
- Committee substitute printed 26106267D-S1
- Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (6-Y 5-N 3-A)
- Failed to report from Courts of Justice with substitute
- Senate committee offered
- Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/21/2026 3:35 pm)
- Rereferred from Local Government to Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)
- Referred to Committee on Local Government
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101500D