Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB17: An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-644.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enforcement of vehicle liens; property value.
Status: Vetoed, April 13, 2026
Enforcement of vehicle liens; property value. Increases from $12,500 to $17,000 the maximum value of property that may be sold at public auction to satisfy a lien on a motor vehicle without petitioning for a court order for the sale of such property. This bill is identical to HB 1288.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, April 13, 2026:
(SB17) GOVERNOR'S VETO Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 17, which would allow tow truck companies, garage keepers, mechanics, and self-storage facilities to auction off more vehicles in their possession without judicial approval. Companies often take temporary custody of a person's vehicle, including when a car needs routine maintenance, when the person parks at the airport, when a vehicle breaks down, or in less honest cases, when a person is the victim of predatory towing. Regardless of the reason why, Virginians should not have to worry that the company with temporary possession of their vehicle can sell it without their permission or a court order. Senate Bill 17 would put more vehicle owners at risk by increasing the vehicle valuation limit from $12,500 to $17,000, allowing companies with temporary possession of a person's car to use an administrative process to conduct a public auction of the car. Senate Bill 17 would result in a significant increase in the number of vehicles that could be sold without going through the process of getting a court order. Accordingly, I veto this bill.
Sponsors
- David Suetterlein (R, 4) · primary sponsor
- Bill DeSteph (R, 20)
Latest actions
- : Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- : Passed by for the day
- : Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- : Vetoed by Governor
- : Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- : Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- : Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB17)
- : Signed by Speaker
- : Signed by President
- : Enrolled
Votes
- Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A) (February 27, 2026): 96 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N) (February 24, 2026): 21 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passage R (February 4, 2026): 32 yea, 8 nay, passed
- Engross & Advance V (February 3, 2026): 0 yea, 0 nay, failed
- Pass By V (February 2, 2026): 0 yea, 0 nay, failed
- Constitutional reading dispensed R (February 2, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB17?
- SB17 is a bill in the Virginia Legislature (2026 Regular Session): An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-644.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enforcement of vehicle liens; property value.
- What does SB17 do?
- Enforcement of vehicle liens; property value. Increases from $12,500 to $17,000 the maximum value of property that may be sold at public auction to satisfy a lien on a motor vehicle without petitioning for a court order for the sale of such property. This bill is identical to HB 1288.
- What is the status of SB17?
- Vetoed as of April 13, 2026. Latest action: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (April 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB17?
- David Suetterlein (R, 4), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB17?
- On the Virginia Legislature website: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB17
Source: official Virginia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.