2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100108D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1134

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to establish a Potomac River Ferry Restoration of Service Working Group; report.

—————

Patron—Reid

—————

Referred to Committee on Rules

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Commissioner of Highways shall convene a work group to identify and implement a solution to resume ferry service for any ferry service that ceased operations on or after December 1, 2020, between Point of Rocks and the American Legion Bridge along the Potomac River. Such work group shall be established as the Potomac River Ferry Restoration of Service Working Group (the Working Group). The Commissioner of Highways or his designee shall serve as the chair of the Working Group. The Working Group shall also include representatives from the Office of the Attorney General; the Virginia Department of Transportation; any Virginia county where ferry service previously existed and ceased operations on or after December 1, 2020, and the landowners, ferry owner, and ferry operator involved with any such discontinued service; the Maryland Department of Transportation; the U.S. Coast Guard, as appropriate; relevant legal and land use experts; and any other representatives deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Highways. The Working Group shall identify options for reestablishing ferry access points where operations were ceased, including fair compensation for landing rights and granting of easements. The Working Group shall include any potential solution that involves the disbursement of state funds or legislative action in the final report submitted to the General Assembly.

§ 2. The Office of the Attorney General shall participate in the Working Group and review any proposed legal or property agreements to ensure constitutionality and compliance with state and federal law and any relevant interstate compacts or agreements.

§ 3. The Office of the Attorney General, Secretary of Transportation, and Commissioner of Highways are authorized to enter into any agreement proposed by the Working Group, provided that each such official determines that the agreement is necessary, prudent, and in the public interest, and the agreement places no additional financial burden on the Commonwealth.

§ 4. The county in which ferry service ceased operations on or after December 1, 2020, shall provide all staff support and meeting logistics for the Working Group to meet, conduct interviews, and hold public meetings.

§ 5. The Working Group shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than December 1, 2026, and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.