Sen. Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke)

Photo of Ralph Smith
Party
Republican
District
19: Floyd County (All), Salem City (All), Bedford County (Part), Carroll County (Part), Franklin County (Part), Montgomery County (Part), Roanoke County (Part), Wythe County (Part)
Took Office
January 2008
Left Office
January 2016
Age
81
Copatroning Habits
58% of bills he has copatroned were introduced by Republicans. Of all of the copatrons of his bills, 65% of them are Republicans. Of all of his fellow copatrons of the bills that he copatroned, 56% of them are Republicans.
Partisanship
?
Bio

Retired from the trailer part manufacturing business. Served as the mayor of Roanoke from 2000-4. Defeated Sen. Brandon Bell in the Republican primary. Graduate of Nashville Auto-Diesel College. Has four children.

Recent Mentions in the Media

SoVaNOW: Gone to the dogs? Hunting alliance swings outcome in SD-9

January 17, 2024 | 3:00 am
  

Virginia Mercury: Northam vetoes 'only anti-gerrymandering bill to cross his desk,' senator complains

May 2, 2019 | 3:00 am
  

Roanoke Times: Roanoke County's Sen. David Suetterlein gains attention as ratepayer advocate

March 3, 2018 | 3:00 am
  

Bearing Drift: 6th District Chairman’s Race Offers a Fresh Face

February 5, 2018 | 3:00 am
  

Jamaica Gleaner: Ralph Smith's 80th birthday | Lifestyle

January 13, 2016 | 3:00 am
  

These are all of the video clips of Ralph Smith’s remarks on the floor of the Senate since 2009. There are 110 video clips in all.

Bills

  • SB1249: School calendar; local school boards responsible for setting.
  • SB1250: Lobbyist disclosure; amends portion of form on which gifts are disclosed.
  • SB1251: Lobbyist reporting; disclosure statement.
  • SB1254: Judges; restriction on election and appointment by General Assembly.
  • SB1255: Elections; method of nominating party candidates.
  • SB1256: Localities; advertisement of legal notices on radio or television.
  • SB1257: Cash proffer for residential construction; sunset date.
  • SB1339: School board clerks; electronic maintenance of records.
  • SB1352: General Assembly; consideration of the conference committee report on the biennial budget.
  • SB1425: General Assembly; reports accompanying general appropriation bills.
  • SB1426: Standards of Learning; reduces total number and type of required assessments.
  • SJ305: Constitutional amendment (first resolution); powers of General Assembly; limitations.
  • SR130: Commending Ona Estelle Shrader Smith.
  • SR131: Commending Malcolm B.'Mac' Wiseman.
  • SB20: Lobbyist's Disclosure Statement; redesigns to clarify information requested and increase compliance.
  • SB21: Conflict of Interests Acts, State and Local Government and General Assembly; disclosure thresholds.
  • SB468: General Assembly; consideration of conference committee report on biennial budget.
  • SB469: Virginia Stormwater Management Program; localities with minimal Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • SB470: Speed limits; maximum limit on nonsurface-treated highways in certain counties.
  • SB471: Conflict of Interests Act, State and Local Government; filing of quarterly disclosure.
  • SB472: Legal notices; advertisement by localities.
  • SB474: Elections; method of nominating party candidates, party primaries.
  • SB637: School calendar; continuing waivers.
  • SB638: Prescription Monitoring Program; reporting requirements.
  • SJ195: Celebrating the life of Winston Leigh Plymale, Sr.
  • SJ196: Commending the Cave Spring High School softball team.
  • SJ197: Commending the Cave Spring High School debate team.
  • SJ198: Commending the Hidden Valley High School volleyball team.
  • SJ199: Commending Caleb Shane Tanner.
  • SJ5074: Celebrating the life of the Honorable James Clinton Turk.
  • SR49: Commending William Ray Teaford.
  • SB272: General Assembly; consideration of certain documents related to budget bill.
  • SB277: Abortion, forced or coerced; prohibited, penalty.
  • SB281: Elections; persons entitled to place on ballot when in compliance with campaign finance disclosure.
  • SB936: Teaching positions; notice to principals, assistant principals, or supervisors of reassignment.
  • SB937: Local taxes; interest on refunds and delinquent taxes.
  • SB939: Charter; City of Salem.
  • SB1099: School calendar; local school boards responsible for setting opening of school year, etc.
  • SB1100: General registrar; removes requirement that office be open on second Saturday before May election.
  • SB1161: General Assembly; consideration of conference committee report on biennial budget, etc.
  • SB1166: Littering & illegal dumping; if convicted, ordered to perform minimum of 10 hrs. community service.
  • SB1168: Elections; method of nominating party candidates.
  • SB1200: Traffic regulation; conforms Title 46.2 to changes to Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
  • SB1317: Real property; DGS authorized to convey property to Mennel Milling Company in Roanoke County.
  • SB1318: Cannabinoids, research chemicals, synthetic; penalties.
  • SJ446: Celebrating the life of John Everett Reed.
  • SJ447: Celebrating the life of Patsy Thomas Smith.
  • SJ448: Commending the Vinton Host Lions Club.
  • SJ449: Celebrating the life of Robert E. Dayton.
  • SB272: General Assembly; consideration of certain documents related to budget bill.
  • SB273: Cannabinoids, synthetic; amends provisions regarding criminalization.
  • SB274: Urban development areas; makes designation optional rather than mandatory for all localities.
  • SB275: Elections; party identification on ballots in local elections.
  • SB276: Elections; method of nominating party candidates.
  • SB277: Abortion, forced or coerced; prohibited, penalty.
  • SB278: Teachers; date changes for contract renewal for those without continuing contract status.
  • SB279: Abortion; informed consent, shall undergo ultrasound imaging.
  • SB280: Motor vehicle insurance; places time limits on appeals to DMV for suspension of driver's license.
  • SB281: Elections; persons entitled to place on ballot when in compliance with campaign finance disclosure.
  • SB282: Voter registration; cancellation of registrations from persons reported to be deceased.
  • SB283: Illegal voting and registrations; prohibition against voting more than once.
  • SB662: Waterworks & Wastewater Works Operators & Onsite Sewage System Professionals, Board for; licensure.
  • SB663: Voter identification requirements; concealed handgun permits as acceptable form of identification.
  • SB664: Legal notices; allows localities to meet notice requirements by utilizing their websites, etc.
  • SJ229: Celebrating the life of Henry Thomas Grindstaff.
  • SB505: Political parties; to determine method of nominating candidates.
  • SB507: Lobbyist's disclosure statement; Secretary of Commonwealth to redesign form.
  • SB749: Marijuana, synthetic; penalties for possession, intent to sell, distribute, etc.
  • SB867: Budget bill; Conference Committee Report shall not be considered until on website for 72 hours.
  • SB1211: Mennel Milling Company; DGS to convey certain real property located in Roanoke County.
  • SB1212: Certificate of public need; Commissioner of Health to approve request to amend certain conditions.
  • SB1213: Voter registration applications; Board of Elections to make available where fishing license is sold.
  • SB1214: Attorney General; investigation of complaints of abuse of person in care of others.
  • SB1215: Medicaid fraud; restitution.
  • SB1216: Delinquent sewer & water fees; authority to provide 30 days notice prior to recording lien.
  • SB1217: Abortion; person who forces or coerces pregnant female against her will is guilty of misdemeanor.
  • SB1218: Nominating candidates; political parties to determine method.
  • SB1266: Size and weight compliance agents; citations for overweight vehicles.
  • SB1434: Certificate of public need; addition of nursing facility beds in Planning District 11, etc.
  • SB1435: Abortion; person shall undergo ultrasound imaging and view image of her fetus.
  • SB1436: Eminent domain; condemnor is required to provide an appraisal to owner of condemned property.
  • SJ456: Commending Joe C. Tate.
  • SJ513: Celebrating the life of John P. Fishwick.
  • SR36: Celebrating the life of Connie Amos Thurston.
  • SB3: Concealed handgun permits; renewal by mail.
  • SB4: General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; disclosure of government employment.
  • SB5: Budget; consideration of certain documents related to.
  • SB502: Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority; delays reversion of title to real property to State.
  • SB503: Charter; Town of Fincastle.
  • SB504: Abortion; any person who forces or coerces pregnant female to have is guilty of Class 1 misdemeanor.
  • SB505: Political parties; to determine method of nominating candidates.
  • SB506: Political contributions; prohibition during procurement process.
  • SB507: Lobbyist's disclosure statement; Secretary of Commonwealth to redesign form.
  • SB508: House and Senate Ethics Advisory Panels; completion of inquiry once initiated.
  • SB509: Charter; Town of Vinton.
  • SB510: New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority Act; created.
  • SB603: General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act; penalties.
  • SB637: Jail superintendent and officers; service of civil and criminal process of jailed inmates.
  • SJ161: Commending Radford University on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
  • SJ235: Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
  • SJ236: Commending Titan America.
  • SJ250: Commending Community Housing Partners.
  • SR20: Commending the Cave Spring High School boys' basketball team.
  • SB736: State song; designates 'Cradle of Liberty'.
  • SB779: Real estate taxes; assessments, bills, and deferral by localities.
  • SB827: Family life education; adds benefits, etc., of marriage for men, etc., to list of topics covered.
  • SB828: License plates, special; issuance to members & supporters of Friends of Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc.
  • SB829: Registered voters; registration residence requirements for person attending accredited institution.
  • SB875: Jury costs; plaintiff who requests trial in civil case shall be assessed.
  • SB934: General Assembly; consideration of certain documents related to the Budget.
  • SB935: Remote access to land records; Prince William County may establish a pilot program, assessing fee.
  • SB1224: Littering; person to perform community service if matter illegally dumped or ejected from vehicle.
  • SB1225: Charter; Town of Fincastle.
  • SB1513: Firearms; award of court costs, etc., to entity that prevails in action challenging locality.
  • SB1514: Real estate tax; notice of change in assessment.
  • SJ302: Celebrating the life of Leigh Buckner Hanes, Jr.
  • SJ356: Teenage driving; joint subcommittee to study.
  • SJ465: Commending Bruce M. Farrell.
  • SJ499: Celebrating the life of Henry D. Gregory III.
  • SJ500: Celebrating the life of James Arnold Jones.
  • SJ5009: Celebrating the life of Charlton Heston.
  • SJ5020: Commending Elmer C. Hodge, Jr.
  • SJ5021: Commending Malvin Wells.
  • SB730: Concealed handgun permits; access to permittee information.
  • SB731: Central Criminal Records Exchange; clarifies orders for mental health treatment forwarded by court.
  • SB732: Class 1 misdemeanors; local law-enforcement shall report to school superintendent, etc.
  • SB733: Illegal aliens; presumption against admission to bail for those charged with criminal offense.
  • SB734: Administrative Process Act; public participation guidelines for executive branch agencies.
  • SB735: Decedents' estates; priority of debts.
  • SB736: State song; designates 'Cradle of Liberty'.
  • SB762: Abortion; forced or coerced prohibited, penalty.
  • SB779: Real estate taxes; assessments, bills, and deferral by localities.
  • SJ207: Commending Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club, Inc., on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
  • SJ233: Commending Forest G. Jones.
  • SJ5009: Celebrating the life of Charlton Heston.
  • SJ5020: Commending Elmer C. Hodge, Jr.
  • SJ5021: Commending Malvin Wells.
  • SJ6013: Celebrating the life of Therl Edward Leonard.