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2024 SESSION

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24102053D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1304 Offered January 10, 2024 A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1400 of the Code of Virginia, relating to required voting districts in certain cities. ---------- Patron-- Convirs-Fowler ---------- Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 15.2-1400 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 15.2-1400. Governing bodies.

A. The qualified voters of every locality shall elect a governing body for such locality. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall be as specified by law, general or special. Qualification for office is provided in Article 4 (§ 15.2-1522 et seq.) of Chapter 15.

B. The governing body of every locality shall be composed of not fewer than three nor more than 11 members.

C. Chairmen, mayors, supervisors, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions set forth in §§ 15.2-1534 and 15.2-1535.

D. A governing body may punish or fine a member of the governing body for disorderly behavior.

E. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-222 and 24.2-222.1, any city or town charter, or any other provision of law, general or special, beginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor, members of a local governing body, or members of an elected school board shall be held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence January 1.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a locality that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the governing body, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the locality at large.

G. Notwithstanding the provisions of any city charter, the provisions of § 24.2-304.1, or any other provision of law, general or special, for municipal elections held after January 1, 2025, every city with a population of 250,000 or greater shall be required to elect its council members by individual districts or wards. Any city council that does not already meet the requirements of this section shall establish the required districts and shall reapportion the representation in the governing body in accordance with Article 2.1 (§ 24.2-304.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2.