Virginia SB 462: Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102690D

SENATE BILL NO. 462

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to provide a new charter for the Town of Louisa in Louisa County and to repeal Chapter 68 of the Acts of Assembly of 1972, as amended, which provided a charter for the Town of Louisa.

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Patron—Cifers

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Referred to Committee on Local Government

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.

CHARTER

FOR THE

TOWN OF LOUISA.

Chapter 1.

Incorporation and Boundaries.

§ 1.1. Incorporation.

The inhabitants of the territory within the present limits and future boundaries of the Town of Louisa, hereinafter referred to as the "Town," shall continue as a body politic and corporate under the name "Town of Louisa." The Town shall have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and may adopt, alter, or renew a corporate seal at its pleasure.

§ 1.2. Boundaries.

The boundaries of the Town shall be as established in the Acts of the General Assembly approved on March 8, 1873, and any subsequent amendments. These boundaries are further defined by the order of the Circuit Court of Louisa County dated November 1, 1955, recorded in Law Order Book 14 at Page 178 et seq., and as depicted on the plat by J. Temple Waddell recorded in Plat Book 2 at Page 134 in the Clerk's office of the Circuit Court of Louisa County.

Chapter 2.

Powers.

§ 2.1. General Grant of Powers.

The Town shall have all powers that are conferred upon towns under the Constitution of Virginia and other laws of the Commonwealth. All powers set forth in Chapter 11 of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia (§ 15.2-1100 et seq.), as may be amended from time to time, are hereby specifically conferred upon the Town of Louisa.

Chapter 3.

Governing Body.

§ 3.1. Composition of Town Council; Election, Qualification, and Term of Office of Town Council Members.

The Town shall be governed by a Mayor and a Town Council composed of five members, elected at large by the qualified voters of the Town. The Mayor shall be elected to a four-year term. Town Council members shall serve four-year staggered terms, with elections held in accordance with the general laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

§ 3.2. When Terms of Office to Begin.

The terms of office for the Mayor and Town Council members shall commence and continue as provided by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

§ 3.3. Oath of Office.

Before assuming office, the Mayor and each Town Council member shall take an oath or affirmation to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their office to the best of their abilities. This oath shall be administered by a person authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

§ 3.4. Election and Term of Vice-Mayor.

The Town Council shall elect from among its members a Vice-Mayor, who shall serve a term of two years or until a successor is so elected.

§ 3.5. Powers and Duties of Mayor and Vice-Mayor.

The Mayor shall preside over Town Council meetings and shall have the same right to speak as other Town Council members. The Mayor shall vote when the Town Council is equally divided. The Mayor shall be recognized as the head of the Town government for ceremonial purposes and military law. In the Mayor's absence or inability to act, the Vice-Mayor shall assume the Mayor's powers and duties.

§ 3.6. Absence or Disability of Mayor and Vice-Mayor.

If both the Mayor and Vice-Mayor are unable to perform their duties, the Town Council shall, by a majority vote of those present, elect an Acting Mayor from among its members. The Acting Mayor shall serve until the Mayor or Vice-Mayor is able to resume their duties. In such circumstances, the Town Clerk shall call the Town Council meeting to order and preside until an Acting Mayor is elected, without assuming any powers of the Mayor.

§ 3.7. Town Council a Continuing Body.

The Town Council shall be a continuing body, and no measures pending before such body, or any contract or obligation incurred, shall abate or be discontinued by reason of the expiration of the term of office or removal of any of its members.

§ 3.8. General Grant of Powers to the Town Council.

In addition to the powers granted herein, the Town Council shall have all powers and authority that are now or may hereafter be granted to councils of towns by the general laws of the Commonwealth and by this Charter, and the recital of special powers and authorities herein shall not be taken to exclude the exercise of any power and authority granted by the general laws of the Commonwealth to town councils, but not herein specified.

§ 3.9. Meetings of the Town Council.

The Town Council shall fix the time of their stated meetings, and they shall meet at least once a month. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Mayor or by two members of the Town Council, provided that all members shall be duly notified a reasonable period of time prior to an