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SB 44

Cemeteries on private property; registration by localities.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Danica Roem

SB 44 requires Northern Virginia localities to register and maintain records of private cemeteries on non-public property to prevent loss and protect burial sites during development.

Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 44

Legislative bill overview

SB 44 requires localities in Virginia's Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) to register and document private cemeteries located on non-public property. The bill appears designed to create an official record of these burial grounds, which may currently lack formal government documentation or oversight.

Why is this important

Private cemeteries on residential or rural property often exist without formal registration, creating challenges for land ownership records, property transfers, estate planning, and cemetery maintenance over generations. Establishing a registration system helps protect these burial sites from inadvertent development, neglect, or legal disputes while providing families and future property owners with clear information about cemetery locations and boundaries.

Potential points of contention

  • Property rights vs. regulation: Landowners may resist government registration requirements as overreach into private property management, or dispute whether registration creates new maintenance obligations or liability for cemetery upkeep
  • Scope and enforcement: Unclear whether registration is voluntary or mandatory, and what happens if owners fail to register existing cemeteries or if cemeteries are discovered after registration deadlines
  • Regional limitation: The restriction to Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) raises questions about why other Virginia regions are excluded and whether this creates an inconsistent patchwork of cemetery protections statewide

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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