Latest News: Requesting Comments on Future Code of Virginia Title Recodifications

The Virginia Code Commission, which is responsible for publishing and maintaining the Code of Virginia, is considering placing Title 23, Educational Institutions, on its work plan as the commission's next recodification project to begin in 2014, followed by Title 36, Housing, in 2016. Neither title has been recodified since its enactment as part of the current Code of Virginia of 1950.

Generally, the commission selects a title to recodify based on the need to logically reorganize content, modernize language, and reflect current Code style and numbering schemes. To the extent practical, the commission avoids making substantive changes to the statutory text. In the event a substantive change is made, the change is highlighted and explained in the final report.

Other titles presented as recodification candidates in the future include Titles 8.01 (Civil Remedies and Procedure), 22.1 (Education), 40.1 (Labor and Employment), 45.1 (Mines and Mining), and 55 (Property and Conveyances).

The commission is currently working on Title 33.1, Highways, Bridges and Ferries, assisted by an advisory panel of practitioners experienced in this area. Work on proposed Title 33.2, Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems, is expected to be finalized by the end of 2013 with resulting legislation introduced at the 2014 Session of the General Assembly. More information on title recodifications can be found on the commission's website: http://codecommission.dls.virginia.gov/title_33_1.shtml.

Send comments to Jane Chaffin, Division of Legislative Services, General Assembly Building, 2nd Floor, 201 North Ninth Street, Richmond, VA 23219, by June 18, 2013.

Establishment of the Virginia Code Commission

The Commission on Code Recodification was created in 1946 as a permanent commission of the legislative branch. (Ch. 400, 1946 Acts of Assembly) In 1948, the Commission was renamed the Virginia Code Commission. The original purpose of the Commission was to create the 1950 Code of Virginia by codifying the Acts of Assembly of 1948 and all statutes enacted prior to and subsequent to 1948.

The Code Commission Today

Today, the Commission's duties, set out in Chapter 15 (§ 30-145 et seq.) of Title 30 of the Code of Virginia, include:

  • Annually supervising the codification of the statutes after each session of the General Assembly.
  • Revising and recodifying individual titles of the Code of Virginia.
  • Reviewing the Code of Virginia and Acts of Assembly to identify obsolete provisions.
  • Arranging for the codification and incorporation into the Code of Virginia of all general, special and limited compacts to which the Commonwealth of Virginia is a party.
  • Compiling and codifying all of the administrative regulations of state agencies into the Virginia Administrative Code.
  • Overseeing the bi-weekly publication of the Virginia Register of Regulations.
  • Monitoring, with the assistance of the Administrative Law Advisory Committee, the operation of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) and the Virginia Register Act (§ 2.2-4100 et seq.), to ensure that the laws provide the most practical means for administrative agencies of the Commonwealth to promulgate, amend, and repeal administrative law.
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