Bill in Virginia House seeks to prohibit local officials from holding multiple jobs in same locality

State Del. John Chilton McAuliff’s new bill is designed to limit conflicts of interest by preventing local government officials from working in additional roles within their locality, as stated by the Virginia State House.

HB505, filed on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, is formally titled: “Counties, cities, & towns; members of governing body, continuing personal interest in transactions.”

Here is a breakdown based on the official bill language, along with explanatory interpretation for clarity.

The measure prohibits county, city, or town governing body members from holding a second job with the locality and provides that their seat will be vacated if such employment begins or continues on or after their term commences. Additionally, it bars governing members from voting on matters pertaining to their previous local government job for one year after leaving that employment. The intent is to foster separation between policymakers and government employees, reducing potential conflicts of interest.

Rep. John Chilton McAuliff (Democrat-30th District) is the sole sponsor of the bill.

At the session’s outset, McAuliff has also put forward eight other bills.

He is a 2014 graduate of the University of Richmond.

McAuliff was elected to serve Virginia’s 30th House District in 2026 as a Democrat, succeeding Geary Higgins in the State House.

For legislation in Virginia, the process begins in either chamber. Bills are assigned to committees, where they may be discussed and amended. If advanced from committee, they go to the floor of each chamber for debate and vote. Measures passed by both chambers are sent to the governor for signature, veto, or passage without signature. The General Assembly meets each year starting the second Monday of January, with members introducing hundreds of proposals—only a portion of which become law.