HB1237Introduced in the House of Delegates
Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards, owner unknown.
Introduced by Briana Sewell, District 25
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Cemeteries; maintenance of abandoned or neglected graveyards; owner unknown. Permits the owner of adjacent land or an incorporated nonprofit entity to petition the circuit court for an exclusive license to maintain a graveyard that has been abandoned, is unused and neglected by the owner, and the owner of such graveyard is unknown, or cannot with reasonable diligence be found. The bill requires the petitioner to (i) demonstrate a good faith effort to identify and contact an owner of record of the graveyard and (ii) publish in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality in which the graveyard is located, once a week for two consecutive weeks, notice that a petition for a maintenance license has been filed. The bill allows a court to grant a petitioner an exclusive license for the maintenance of an abandoned graveyard not to exceed five years. Such petitioner may, by petition of the court, renew such license indefinitely. After the court grants a petitioner a license to maintain the property, the owner of such graveyard may petition the circuit court of the county or city in which the graveyard is located to terminate the license.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 9, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102487D
Referred to Committee on General Laws
Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1237)
Read second time and engrossed
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1237ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1237)
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 278 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278)
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