HB 296

            
2020 SESSION

20100934D

HOUSE BILL NO. 296


Offered January 8, 2020


Prefiled December 30, 2019

A BILL to amend and reenact � 15.2-3201 of the Code of 
 Virginia, relating to transition of towns to cities.
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Patron-- Gooditis

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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
 
 
1. That � 15.2-3201 of the Code of Virginia is amended and 
 reenacted as follows:
 
 
� 15.2-3201. Temporary restrictions on granting of city 
 charters, filing annexation notices, institutions of annexation proceedings, 
 and county immunity proceedings.
 
 
Beginning January 1, 1987, and terminating on the first to 
 occur of (i) July 1, 2024, or (ii) the July 1 next following the expiration of 
 any biennium, other than the 1998-2000, 2000-2002, 2002-2004, 2006-2008, 
 2008-2010, 2010-2012, 2012-2014, 2014-2016, 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 2020-2022, 
 and 2022-2024 bienniums, during which the General Assembly appropriated for 
 distribution to localities for aid in their law-enforcement expenditures 
 pursuant to Article 8 (� 9.1-165 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 an amount 
 that is less than the total amount required to be appropriated for such purpose 
 pursuant to subsection A of � 9.1-169, no city shall file against any county an 
 annexation notice with the Commission on Local Government pursuant to � 
 15.2-2907, and no city shall institute an annexation court action against any 
 county under any provision of this chapter except a city that filed an 
 annexation notice before the Commission on Local Government prior to January 1, 
 1987. During the same period, with the exception of (a) a 
 charter for a proposed consolidated city, or (b) a charter 
 for a town with a population of greater than 50,000 that is transitioning 
 to a city pursuant to Chapter 38 (� 15.2-3800 et seq.), no city charter shall be granted or come into force and 
 no suit or notice shall be filed to secure a city charter. However, the 
 foregoing shall not prohibit the institution of nor require the stay of an 
 annexation proceeding or the filing of an annexation notice for the purpose of 
 implementing an annexation agreement, the extent, terms and conditions of which 
 have been agreed upon by a county and city; nor shall the foregoing prohibit 
 the institution of or require the stay of an annexation proceeding by a city 
 which, prior to January 1, 1987, commenced a proceeding before the Commission 
 on Local Government to review a proposed voluntary settlement pursuant to � 
 15.2-3400; nor shall the foregoing prohibit the institution of or require the 
 stay of any annexation proceeding commenced pursuant to � 15.2-2907 or 
 15.2-3203, except that no such proceeding may be commenced by a city against 
 any county, nor shall any city be a petitioner in any annexation proceeding 
 instituted pursuant to � 15.2-3203.
 
 
Beginning January 1, 1988, and terminating on the first to 
 occur of (i) (1) 
 July 1, 2024, or (ii) (2) the July 1 next following 
 the expiration of any biennium, other than the 1998-2000, 2000-2002, 2002-2004, 
 2006-2008, 2008-2010, 2010-2012, 2012-2014, 2014-2016, 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 
 2020-2022, and 2022-2024 bienniums, during which the General Assembly 
 appropriated for distribution to localities for aid in their law-enforcement 
 expenditures pursuant to Article 8 (� 9.1-165 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 
 9.1 an amount that is less than the total amount required to be appropriated 
 for such purpose pursuant to subsection A of � 9.1-169, no county shall file a 
 notice or petition pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 29 (� 15.2-2900 et 
 seq.) or Chapter 33 (� 15.2-3300 et seq.) requesting total or partial immunity 
 from city-initiated annexation and from the incorporation of new cities within 
 its boundaries. However, the foregoing shall not prohibit the institution of 
 nor require the stay of an immunity proceeding or the filing of an immunity 
 notice for the purpose of implementing an immunity agreement, the extent, terms 
 and conditions of which have been agreed upon by a county and city.