Bill to establish Petersburg Parking Authority passes House and Senate

A measure put forward by Del. Kimberly Pope Adams has garnered approval from both legislative chambers, paving the way for formation of the Petersburg Parking Authority to address local traffic and public safety concerns, the Virginia State House reports.

The bill successfully passed with an 88-10 vote in the House and a 39-1 vote in the Senate, and as of March 30, 2026, it had been formally enrolled.

Introduced as HB1448 on Jan. 23, 2026, during the regular session, the Virginia legislature summarized it as: “Petersburg Parking Authority; created.”

The summary below is based on the full bill text and may add interpretation for clarification.

If signed into law, the measure creates the Petersburg Parking Authority as a public entity charged with planning, building, financing, owning, and managing off-street parking in the city to help mitigate congestion and strengthen public safety. The city council is authorized to establish the authority by resolution after a public hearing. The law provides for a five-member board with staggered appointments and gives the new authority power to acquire property (including through eminent domain with city approval), construct and lease parking lots, set or adjust fees, and enter into contracts. The authority may issue revenue and refunding bonds secured solely by parking revenues—not city or state general funds—and its facilities, income, and bonds are exempt from local and state taxation.

The House tally consisted of 63 Democrats and 25 Republicans voting to approve, with 10 Republicans in dissent.

In the Senate, 21 Democrats and 18 Republicans voted in favor, while one Republican voted against the measure.

Del. Kimberly Pope Adams (Democrat-82nd District) was the sole sponsor of the bill.

Adams earned her BA from Virginia Tech in 2005 and a degree from Liberty University in 2017.

Adams was elected as a Democrat to represent Virginia’s 82nd House District in 2026, succeeding Kim Taylor.

For background, in Virginia, the legislative process typically starts when a bill is filed in either the House of Delegates or Senate. It is sent to committees for consideration and possible revisions, followed by debate and votes before the full chambers. Bills passed by both houses advance to the governor, who may sign, veto or let them become law without a signature. The General Assembly meets each year beginning the second Monday in January, introducing hundreds of bills per session—with only a fraction enacted into law.

Details for this article come from the Virginia State House, with source information available here.