Virginia · House Bill 1721 · 2025 Regular Session

Uniform Easement Relocation Act.

HB 1721 Sponsored by Vivian E. Watts Vetoed

  1. Introduced Jan 4, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 4, 2025
  3. Passed the House of Delegates Jan 23, 2025
  4. Passed the Senate Feb 20, 2025
  5. To the governor Mar 11, 2025
  6. Vetoed May 2, 2025

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Uniform Easement Relocation Act. Creates the Uniform Easement Relocation Act, which allows the owner of real estate burdened by an easement to obtain a court order to relocate the easement if the relocation does not materially impair, among other impairments, (i) the utility of the easement holder or (ii) the physical condition, use, or value of the benefited property. The Act requires that the burdened property…

Read the full title (177 words)

Uniform Easement Relocation Act. Creates the Uniform Easement Relocation Act, which allows the owner of real estate burdened by an easement to obtain a court order to relocate the easement if the relocation does not materially impair, among other impairments, (i) the utility of the easement holder or (ii) the physical condition, use, or value of the benefited property. The Act requires that the burdened property owner file a civil action, give notice to other potentially affected real property interest owners, and bear the costs of relocation. Under current law, the owner of land that is subject to an easement may seek relocation of the easement on the servient estate upon petition to the circuit court and notice to all parties in interest, and the petition will be granted if, after a hearing held, the court finds that (a) the relocation will not result in economic damage to the parties in interest, (b) there will be no undue hardship created by the relocation, and (c) the easement has been in existence for not less than 10 years.

Every action

58 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 50 earlier steps
  1. House of DelegatesPrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100287D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  3. CommitteeAssigned Courts sub: Civil · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 2
  4. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  5. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  6. CommitteeSubcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 28–0 vote
  7. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  8. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice22–0 vote
  9. House of DelegatesCommittee substitute printed 25105310D-H2
  10. House of DelegatesRead first time
  11. House of DelegatesFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1721)
  12. House of DelegatesRead second time
  13. House of DelegatesCourts of Justice Substitute agreed to
  14. House of DelegatesEngrossed by House - committee substitute
  15. House of DelegatesRead third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)97–0 vote
  16. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
  17. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · Senate Courts of Justice
  18. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice with amendments (14-Y 1-N) · Senate Courts of Justice14–1 vote
  19. SenateRules suspended
  20. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N)39–0 vote
  21. SenatePassed by for the day
  22. SenatePassed by for the day
  23. SenateRead third time
  24. SenateFloor substitute printed 25107844D-S1 (Perry)
  25. SenateCourts of Justice Amendment rejected
  26. SenateReading of substitute waived
  27. SenateSenator Perry, Russet Substitute agreed to
  28. SenateEngrossed by Senate - floor substitute
  29. SenatePassed Senate with substitute (39-Y 0-N)39–0 vote
  30. House of DelegatesSenate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N)0–96 vote
  31. SenateSenate insisted on substitute (38-Y 0-N)38–0 vote
  32. SenateSenate requested conference committee
  33. House of DelegatesHouse acceded to request
  34. House of DelegatesConferees appointed by House
  35. House of DelegatesDelegates: Watts, Simon, Leftwich
  36. SenateConferees appointed by Senate
  37. SenateSenators: Perry, Surovell, Stuart
  38. Conference committeeAmended by conference committee
  39. SenateConference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)40–0 vote
  40. House of DelegatesConference substitute printed 25107919D-H3
  41. House of DelegatesConference substitute reprinted 25107919D-H3
  42. House of DelegatesConference report agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N)98–0 vote
  43. House of DelegatesFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1721)
  44. House of DelegatesEnrolled
  45. House of DelegatesBill text as passed House and Senate (HB1721ER)
  46. House of DelegatesSigned by Speaker
  47. SenateSigned by President
  48. House of DelegatesEnrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
  49. GovernorGovernor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
  50. House of DelegatesFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1721)
  1. GovernorGovernor's Recommendation
  2. GovernorGovernor's recommendation received by House
  3. House of DelegatesHouse concurred in Governor's recommendation (96-Y 0-N)96–0 vote
  4. SenateSenate rejected Governor's recommendation (19-Y 21-N)19–21 vote
  5. House of DelegatesCommunicated to Governor
  6. GovernorGovernor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025
  7. House of DelegatesGovernor's Veto Received by House
  8. GovernorVetoed by Governor

Roll calls

12 recorded votes: 9 on the floor, 3 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Passed Senate with substitute (39-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

Passed 39–0
Feb 20, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 39 No 0 Not voting 1
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 18 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 39

Not voting · 1

Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

38–0
Feb 20, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 38 No 0 Not voting 2
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 18 yes, 0 no Republicans: 18 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 38

Not voting · 2

Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

Passed 40–0
Feb 21, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 40 No 0
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 40

Conference report agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N) · Full House of Delegates

Passed 98–0
Feb 22, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 98 No 0 Not voting 2
Party not listed: 23 yes, 0 no Democrats: 44 yes, 0 no Republicans: 31 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 98

Not voting · 2

House concurred in Governor's recommendation (96-Y 0-N) · Full House of Delegates

Passed 96–0
Apr 2, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 96 No 0 Not voting 4
Party not listed: 20 yes, 0 no Democrats: 45 yes, 0 no Republicans: 31 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 96

Not voting · 4

Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (19-Y 21-N) · Full Senate

Failed 19–21
Apr 2, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 19 No 21
Party not listed: 0 yes, 2 no Democrats: 1 yes, 18 no Republicans: 18 yes, 1 no
How each member voted

Yes · 19

No · 21

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 15, 2025 House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 2 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 8

Not voting · 1

 8–0
Jan 17, 2025 House of Delegates Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 22

 Passed 22–0
Jan 23, 2025 Full House of Delegates Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 97

Not voting · 3

 Passed 97–0
Feb 17, 2025 Senate Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (14-Y 1-N)
Members

Yes · 14

No · 1

 Passed 14–1
Feb 18, 2025 Full Senate Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 39

Not voting · 1

 39–0
Feb 20, 2025 Full House of Delegates Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N)
Members

No · 96

Not voting · 4

 Failed 0–96

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 1 cosponsor: 1 Democrat.

All 1 cosponsor

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 2, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.