2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102229D

SENATE BILL NO. 525

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1736 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mutual aid agreements; public safety radio equipment.

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Patron—Stuart

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Referred to Committee on Local Government

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 15.2-1736 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 15.2-1736. Mutual aid agreements among governing bodies of localities.

A. The governing bodies of localities, institutions of higher learning having a police force appointed pursuant to subsection B of § 23.1-812, and institutions of higher education having a private police force, as well as sheriffs, and the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation with commissioned conservation officers, or any combination thereof may, by proper resolutions, enter in and become a party to contracts or mutual aid agreements for the use of their joint forces, both regular and auxiliary, their equipment and materials to maintain peace and good order, including providing transportation for such person subject to an emergency custody order pursuant to § 37.2-808 or providing transportation for a person in the temporary detention process pursuant to § 37.2-810. However, no such institution of higher learning shall enter into such agreement with another institution of higher education in a noncontiguous locality without the consent of all localities within which such institutions are located. Any police or other law-enforcement officer, regular or auxiliary, while performing his duty under any such contract or agreement, shall have the same authority in such locality as he has within the locality where he was appointed.

B. In counties where no police department has been established, the sheriff may, in his discretion, enter into mutual aid agreements as provided by this section.

C. Localities that have entered into a mutual aid agreement pursuant to this section shall provide access to the information necessary to program public safety radio equipment owned or used by such locality. Such information includes radio frequencies and security and encryption keys. Any locality that participates in a mutual aid agreement and receives a request from a partnering jurisdiction shall take all necessary steps to ensure direct communication with the supporting units of that locality. However, no locality shall be required to provide radio equipment upgrades.