Virginia HB 1000: Rappahannock Area Transportation Authority; created, funding, Planning District 16.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26105165D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1000

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-603.1, 58.1-811, and 58.1-816, as they are currently effective and as they may become effective, and 58.1-1744 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 33.2 a chapter numbered 39, consisting of sections numbered 33.2-3900 through 33.2-3914, and by adding a section numbered 58.1-802.6, relating to Rappahannock Area Transportation Authority established; funding; recordation tax; sales and use tax; report.

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Patrons—Cole, J.G. and Cole, N.T.

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Referred to Committee on Appropriations

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 58.1-603.1, 58.1-811, and 58.1-816, as they are currently effective and as they may become effective, and 58.1-1744 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 33.2 a chapter numbered 39, consisting of sections numbered 33.2-3900 through 33.2-3914, and by adding a section numbered 58.1-802.6 as follows:

CHAPTER 39.

RAPPAHANNOCK TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

§ 33.2-3900. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Authority" means the Rappahannock Transportation Authority established pursuant to § 33.2-3902.

"Fund" means the Rappahannock Area Transportation Fund established pursuant to § 33.2-3901.

§ 33.2-3901. Rappahannock Area Transportation Fund.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund for the Authority to be known as the Rappahannock Area Transportation Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All revenues dedicated to the Fund pursuant to §§ 58.1-802.6 and 58.1-1744 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The moneys deposited in the Fund shall be used solely for (i) transportation purposes benefiting the localities comprising the Authority and (ii) administrative and operating expenses as specified in subsection B of § 33.2-3907.

B. The amounts dedicated to the Fund shall be deposited monthly by the Comptroller into the Fund and thereafter distributed to the Authority as soon as practicable for use in accordance with this chapter. If the Authority determines that such moneys distributed to it exceed the amount required to meet the current needs and demands to fund transportation purposes pursuant to this chapter, the Authority may invest such excess moneys to the same extent and in the same manner as provided in subsection A of § 33.2-1525 for excess funds in the Transportation Trust Fund.

C. The amounts deposited into the Fund and the distribution and expenditure of such amounts shall not be used to calculate or reduce the share of federal, state, or local revenues otherwise available to participating localities. Further, such revenues and moneys shall not be included in any computation of or formula for a locality's ability to pay for public education upon which appropriations of state revenues to local governments for public education are determined.

D. After provision for the payment of administrative and operating expenses as specified in subsection B of § 33.2-3907, the revenues in the Fund shall be allocated as follows:

1. Sixty percent shall be retained by the Authority to be used for transportation-related purposes, including the provision of transit and mobility services, benefiting the localities comprising the Authority; and

2. Forty percent shall be returned, proportionally, to each locality located in the Authority to be used to improve local mobility, which may include construction, maintenance, or expansion of roads, sidewalks, trails, mobility services, or transit located in the locality.

E. Each locality's share of the revenues returned pursuant to subdivision D 2 shall be the total of the taxes dedicated to the Fund that are generated or attributable to the locality divided by the total of such taxes dedicated to the Fund. Each locality shall create a separate, special fund in which all revenues received pursuant to subdivision D 2 shall be deposited. Each locality shall annually provide to the Authority sufficient documentation, as required by the Authority, showing that the revenues distributed under subdivision D 2 were used for the purposes set forth therein.

F. The projects and other transportation purposes supported by the revenues allocated under subdivision D 1 shall be approved by the Authority. The Authority shall develop a prioritization process based on an objective and quantifiable analysis that considers the benefits of projects relative to their cost. Only projects evaluated using such