2026 SESSION

LEGISLATION NOT PREPARED BY DLS

INTRODUCED

26106109D

SENATE BILL NO. 830

Offered January 23, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-600.1, relating to official terminology for certain geographic regions.

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Patron—Obenshain

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Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-600.1 as follows:

§ 2.2-600.1. Use of specific geographic terminology in official government materials.

2 A. As used in this section:

"Official government material" means any written, printed, or electronic official material, including but not limited to any guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, or written communication prepared by a state agency.

"State agency" means every department, division, office, board, commission, and institution of the Commonwealth.

B. It is the intent of the General Assembly to refer to the land restored to Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War by its historical name of "Judea and Samaria," with the land south of Jerusalem being considered "Judea" and the land north of Jerusalem being considered "Samaria."

C. A state agency shall use the terms "Judea" and "Samaria" in official government materials when referring to the regions described in subsection B.

D. No state agency shall use the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and Samaria in an official government material.

E. No state agency shall use state funds to create any government material that refers to Judea and Samaria as the "West Bank."