2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104310D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1202

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 33.2-274.2, relating to Department of Transportation; guardrail modernization; report.

—————

Patron—Williams

—————

Referred to Committee on Transportation

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 33.2-274.2 as follows:

§ 33.2-274.2. Guardrail modernization; report.

The Department shall identify, prioritize, and conduct the replacement of guardrail systems and end treatments that do not meet current safety standards contained in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) as published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The Department shall identify and use any state or federal funds available to the Department for the purposes of this section, including any funds the Board may provide from the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program created pursuant to § 33.2-373, and, as necessary, apply for any other grant funds that may be used for such purposes.

The Department shall create and maintain a public inventory of such non-compliant guardrail systems and end treatments. The Department shall create a five-year upgrade schedule for the replacement of such non-compliant guardrail systems and end treatments.

The Department shall submit an annual report on the status of compliance of guardrail systems and end treatments with MASH safety standards, funding needs for such efforts, and any impacts of industry capacity on such efforts to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation no later than December 1.