Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake)

Photo of Lionell Spruill
Party
Democratic
District
5: Chesapeake City (Part), Norfolk City (Part) [map]
Took Office
January 1994
Next Election
November 2019
Committees
Commerce and Labor, Local Government, Privileges and Elections, Rehabilitation and Social Services, Transportation
Age
76
Website
spruillforsenate.com
Twitter
@SenLSpruillSr
Copatroning Habits
64% of bills he copatroned were introduced by Democrats. Of all of the copatrons of his bills, 78% of them are Democrats. Of all of the copatrons of all of the bills that he also copatroned, 58% of them are Democrats.
Partisanship
?
Tag Cloud ?
absentee voting alcohol belt business commendation dillon rule disaster dui education election elections ethics firearm gun health insurance judge locality permission property tax race real estate safety sbe school seat tax transportation vehicle voting voting elections
Bills Passed
66.7% in 2022
Bio

Spruill served from the House of Delegates from 1994–2017, when he joined the Senate.

Recent Mentions in the Media

The Virginian-Pilot: Letters for May 29: State Sen. Lionell Spruill should 'bow out' of the ...

May 28, 2023 | 6:03 pm
  

13newsnow.com WVEC: Voting precincts in Portsmouth highlight redistricting, voter confusion ahead of high-profile race

May 25, 2023 | 6:45 pm
  

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Profiles: Meet the candidates in Virginia's June 20 primary election

May 25, 2023 | 10:15 am
  

WYDaily: How Redistricting Reform is Launching the Virginia General ...

May 20, 2023 | 2:45 am
  

WAVY.com: Election Guide: Virginia June 2023 Primary

May 18, 2023 | 3:00 am
  

These are all of the video clips of Lionell Spruill’s remarks on the floor of the Senate since 2009. There are 55 video clips in all.

Bills

  • SB786: Mold inspectors and mold remediators; licensure.
  • SB789: Jury duty; increases allowance from $30 to $50 per day.
  • SB818: Public elementary and secondary schools; programs of instruction on mental health education.
  • SB828: Long-term care insurance; premium rate increases.
  • SB855: Headlights; aftermarket modifications, blue lights.
  • SB856: Public elementary and secondary schools; comprehensive school counseling program.
  • SB907: Elections; protection of election officials, penalty.
  • SB1062: African American cemeteries and graves; appropriations by DHR.
  • SB1063: Driver improvement clinics and driver training schools; validity of licenses.
  • SB1064: Nonrepairable vehicles; titling requirements, sale to certain auto recyclers.
  • SB1442: Conduct of election; abstract of votes, law-enforcement officer to obtain returns not forwarded.
  • SB1469: Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; applicability, persons residing in hotels, motels, etc.
  • SJ270: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ271: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ272: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ273: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ276: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ283: Commending the Norfolk State University Spartan 'Legion' Marching Band.
  • SJ296: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ297: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SJ317: Governor; confirming appointments.
  • SR120: Commending Inez Violet Jones-King-Saddler.
  • SB39: Constitutional officers; form of ballot, party identification of candidates on ballots.
  • SB40: Assisted living facilities; involuntary discharge, safeguards for residents.
  • SB41: Larceny of a catalytic converter; penalty.
  • SB103: Shipping and Logistics Headquarters Grant Program; updates certain provisions.
  • SB315: Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program and Fund; created.
  • SB679: Preneed funeral contracts; life insurance or annuity contracts.
  • SJ44: Commending the Oscar F. Smith High School football team.
  • SJ47: Jones Act; expresses sense of the General Assembly to support Act.
  • SJ51: Celebrating the life of Curtis Walton.
  • SB624: Geriatric prisoners; conditional release.
  • SB1110: Real estate settlement agents; duties.
  • SB1110: Real estate settlement agents; duties.
  • SB1111: Elections; preservation of order at the polls, powers of officers of election.
  • SB1111: Elections; preservation of order at the polls, powers of officers of election.
  • SB1113: Communicating threats of death or bodily injury to a person with intent to intimidate; penalty.
  • SB1113: Communicating threats of death or bodily injury to a person with intent to intimidate; penalty.
  • SB1126: Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads; change in membership.
  • SB1126: Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads; change in membership.
  • SB1128: Norfolk, City of; amending charter, general updates.
  • SB1128: Norfolk, City of; amending charter, general updates.
  • SB1157: Municipal elections; shifting elections to November.
  • SB1157: Municipal elections; shifting elections to November.
  • SB1158: Port of Virginia tax credits; extends the sunset date.
  • SB1158: Port of Virginia tax credits; extends the sunset date.
  • SB1296: Emergency Management Equity Working Group; established.
  • SB1296: Emergency Management Equity Working Group; established.
  • SB1386: Vehicle registration; enforcement of private tolls.
  • SJ293: Assisted living and auxiliary grants; Joint Commission on Health Care to study available data.
  • SJ293: Assisted living and auxiliary grants; Joint Commission on Health Care to study available data.
  • SR702: Commending the Oscar F. Smith High School football team.
  • SB43: Absentee voting; prohibiting release of absentee voter applicant list.
  • SB44: Public elementary and secondary school students; use of topical sunscreen, etc.
  • SB45: Absentee voting; no excuse required.
  • SB46: Absentee voting; application form contents.
  • SB47: Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, Va. Council on the; membership.
  • SB48: Nonpayment of wages; discriminatory actions prohibited.
  • SB49: Nonpayment of wages; investigations.
  • SB50: Virginia Human Rights Act; racial discrimination, hair.
  • SB51: Carrying a concealed handgun; consumption of alcohol in a public park, penalty.
  • SB96: Norfolk, City of; amending charter, employees of officers, vagrants.
  • SB162: Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government for persons with disabilities.
  • SB163: Entitlement to sales tax revenues from certain public facilities; authorized localities.
  • SB164: Accident airtrip insurance; vending machine sales.
  • SB165: Life and annuities agents; report on licensure exam passage rate.
  • SB227: Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission; review and adjust fee schedules annually.
  • SB228: Motorized skateboard or scooter; increases age requirement to operate.
  • SB555: Voting; restrictions on the basis of race.
  • SB559: Entitlement to sales tax revenues from certain public facilities; authorized localities.
  • SB560: War veterans; removal, relocation, or altering of monuments.
  • SB624: Geriatric prisoners; conditional release.
  • SB955: Celebration of marriage; fee.
  • SB992: Carbon trading program; allocation of allowances, new facility.
  • SB1030: Dangerous captive animal exhibits; definitions, penalty, effective date.
  • SR1: Norfolk Police Department; commending.
  • SR53: Judge; nomination for election to circuit court.
  • SB838: Virginia Conservation Police Review Board; created.
  • SB1025: Companion animals; adequate shelter and space.
  • SB1026: Absentee voting; no-excuse, in-person, beginning on second Saturday immediately preceding election.
  • SB1060: Lottery; disclosure of identity of winners.
  • SB1079: Minimum wage; exemptions.
  • SB1088: Chesapeake Hospital Authority; investment of funds.
  • SB1295: Public schools; tobacco products and nicotine vapor products.
  • SB1664: Absentee voting; prohibiting release of absentee voter applicant list.
  • SB1670: State Corporation Commission; pipeline facilities, inspection reports.
  • SJ256: Celebrating the life of William E. Ward.
  • SR134: Commending RevolutionaryVA250.
  • SR140: Commemorating the life and legacy of Victor J. Ashe.
  • SB18: Security freezes; fees.
  • SB23: Health insurance; coverage for limited drug refills.
  • SB24: Sex offenders in emergency shelters; notification registration.
  • SB25: Drug Control Act; dispensing drugs without a prescription.
  • SB26: Nominating party candidates; certain incumbents to determine method.
  • SB52: Juveniles; places of confinement.
  • SB53: Criminal street gang predicate offenses; penalty.
  • SB143: Mortuary science education; practical experience required.
  • SB144: Form of ballot; party identification of candidates.
  • SB286: Landlord and tenant law; transient lodging as primary residence.
  • SB361: Norfolk, City of; eliminates cap on salaries of appointed members of school board.
  • SB365: Certificate of public need; establishing a new ambulatory surgery center in Hampton Roads.
  • SB742: Firearms magazines and firearms, certain; prohibition of sale, transfer, etc., penalties.
  • SB838: Virginia Conservation Police Review Board; created.
  • SB872: Tethering animals; outdoor tethering of companion animals, definitions of adequate shelter and space
  • SB881: Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Board of; increases membership.
  • SJ29: Standards of Quality; JLARC to study cost to implement.
  • SR1: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Faye Delores Watford Mitchell.
  • SB881: Va Retirement System (VRS); receipt of retirement allowance while employed in a covered position.
  • SB882: Absentee voting; eligibility of any registered voter.
  • SB883: Expungement of police and court records; costs.
  • SB959: Va Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord to inspect vacated dwelling for abandoned animals.
  • SB960: Absentee ballots; expediting counting of absentee ballots returned by mail prior to election day.
  • SB961: Absentee voting; processing of rejected absentee ballots.
  • SB1415: Virginia Port Authority; removal of members on Board of Commissioners.
  • SJ250: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Johnny S. Joannou.
  • SJ388: Commending Kenneth Mason Easley, Jr.
  • SR123: Celebrating the life of Thomas Edward Graves, Jr.
  • HB161: November elections; elections and terms for mayors, councils, and elected school boards.
  • HB371: Maritime cargo terminal owners or operators; vehicles owned or leased.
  • HB633: Standards of Learning; history and social science instruction.
  • HB1148: Recognizances; person subject to immigration detainer.
  • HB1149: Police & court records; if order of expungement, clerk of court shall refund petitioner costs paid.
  • HB1177: Bail bondsmen; licensure of nonresidents.
  • HJ218: Commending Angela West.
  • HB1165: Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Department of; elimination of Department, etc.
  • HB1281: Kill switches for digital devices; definitions, civil penalty.
  • HB1282: Judges; limitation on election and appointment.
  • HB1337: Recordation tax; exemption for bail bondsmen.
  • HB1442: Police and court records; fees for expungement from record.
  • HB1801: Firearms; display or distribution of information at shows.
  • HB2396: Surety on a bond; discharge from liability, magistrates.
  • HJ805: Commending Dolores A. Moore.
  • HB1012: City of Suffolk; ordinance providing that charges for water and sewer shall be a lien on property.
  • HB1165: Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Department of; elimination of Department, etc.
  • HB1185: Health insurance; coverage for mental health services.
  • HB5006: Judges; limitation on election and appointment of judges.
  • HJ5045: Celebrating the life of N. Duval Flora.
  • HJ5046: Celebrating the life of the Reverend Blanche Whitehurst McAllister.
  • HJ5114: Celebrating the life of Elizabeth Manning Paige.
  • HJ5227: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Vernon Thomas Forehand, Jr.
  • HJ5228: Celebrating the life of Don Alan Lee.
  • HR165: Celebrating the life of Joseph Albert Day.
  • HB2107: Absentee ballot procedures and count; requires prompt counting immediately after close of polls.
  • HB2119: Early voting; registered, qualified voter may vote in person from 10 to three days before election.
  • HB2129: Tolls; requires GA approval for tolling of any Interstate or state highway component.
  • HB2130: Nursing homes; implementation of voluntary electronic monitoring in residents' rooms.
  • HB2244: School Resource Officer Grants Program and Fund; proceeds may be disbursed to award matching grants.
  • HJ770: Celebrating the life of George Reid Swecker.
  • HB1019: Charter; City of Chesapeake.
  • HB1020: Precious metal dealers; retention of purchases for a minimum of 15 calendar days.
  • HB1292: Statewide Fire Prevention Code; grandfathering certain kitchens.
  • HB1293: Statewide Fire Prevention Code; local inspection fee in City of Chesapeake.
  • HB1294: Churches, synagogues, etc.; localities shall not charge any fee unless authorized by general law.
  • HJ161: Commending the Oscar Smith High School football team.
  • HJ247: Celebrating the life of Marion A. Boush.
  • HJ248: Celebrating the life of Charles Richard Foxx, Jr.
  • HJ249: Celebrating the life of Joseph Dixon, Jr.
  • HJ250: Celebrating the life of Alice R. Morris.
  • HJ251: Celebrating the life of Eunice White Terry.
  • HJ252: Celebrating the life of Addie Beatrice Weaver Christian.
  • HJ253: Celebrating the life of Shirley A. Freeman.
  • HJ254: Celebrating the life of Dr. Cynthia Patricia Chapman.
  • HJ255: Celebrating the life of Bishop Anthony E. Moses.
  • HJ258: Commending Earlie Blount, Sr., and Blanche Blount.
  • HB1489: Handheld personal communications device; texting while driving.
  • HB1490: Elections; acquisition of voting equipment by localities.
  • HB1896: School health services; school board to employ nurses to have ratio of one nurse per 1,000 students.
  • HB1897: Probationer; required to pay support to those legally responsible.
  • HJ766: Commending the Equipping Businesses for Success Institute.
  • HJ888: Commending Virginia Warren Garrett.
  • HB1211: Aboveground liquid fertilizer storage tanks; may require permit from local fire official.
  • HB1212: Norfolk State University, Visitors of; with approval of Governor, to lease titled real estate.
  • HB1251: State employees; restoration of health insurance plan options in Hampton Roads area.
  • HB1275: Real estate tax; localities to grant higher percentages of tax relief to elderly.
  • HB1281: License plates, special; persons convicted of DUI third or subsequent time to use.
  • HB2109: Economic Development Authority; allows City of Chesapeake to increase size of board of directors.
  • HB2110: Early voting; any qualified voter may vote in person from 17-3 days before election, etc.
  • HB2111: Workers' Compensation; adds sworn Port Authority police officers to those entitled to presumption.
  • HB2112: Financial literacy education; school board to implement objectives in middle and high schools.
  • HB2113: Absentee voting; persons age 65 and older may vote absentee.
  • HJ715: Disability History and Awareness Month; designating as October 2009, & each year therafter.
  • HJ738: Commending the Oscar Smith High School football team.
  • HB1272: School boards; financial literacy education.
  • HB1273: Prisoners; health care costs.
  • HB1274: Real estate tax; exemptions for elderly and handicapped persons in certain cities and counties.
  • HB1275: Real estate tax; localities to grant higher percentages of tax relief to elderly.
  • HB1276: Absentee voting; adds persons age 65 and older to list of persons eligible.
  • HB1277: Firearms; possession prohibited on Capitol Square.
  • HB1278: Voters; those registered may vote prior to election day.
  • HB1279: Transportation district commissioners; raises per diem.
  • HB1280: Charitable gaming; regulation under Board and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
  • HB1281: License plates, special; persons convicted of DUI third or subsequent time to use.
  • HB1452: Display of offensive objects or devices; prohibited on any vehicle.
  • HB1461: Assisted living facilities; exempting certain from requirement to have license.
  • HJ175: School boards; JLARC to study implications of granting fiscal autonomy to those elected.
  • HR9: House of Delegates; amends and readopts Rule 84, and adds Rule 85.
  • HB2900: Firearms; prohibits possession thereof on Capitol Square.
  • HB2901: Absentee voting, in-person; qualified voters may vote at sites provided in locality.
  • HB2903: School buses; requirement of safety belts.
  • HB2904: Retirement System; additional information to localities.
  • HB2905: Charter; City of Suffolk
  • HB2906: Community Action Act; revises process for designation of community action agency.
  • HB2907: License plates, special; those convicted of DUI to use yellow license plates.
  • HB2908: Motor vehicle insurance; prohibits rate increases for not-at-fault accidents.
  • HB2909: Real estate tax; exemption for elderly and disabled.
  • HB2910: Affordable housing; development for low- and moderate-income persons.
  • HB2911: Absentee voting and absentee ballot applications; persons 65 or older may vote absentee.
  • HB3043: Health Commissioner; required to designate licensed physician to oversee minority health efforts.
  • HJ843: Commending the New Frontier Church of God in Christ and its 40th anniversary Worker's Conference.
  • HB79: Vehicle impoundment; driving with a suspended operator's license.
  • HB80: Absentee voting and ballot applications; persons 65 or older may vote absentee.
  • HB81: Early voting; any qualified registered voter may vote at specified times and places.
  • HB82: Law Officers' Retirement System; adding juvenile probation and parole officers.
  • HB84: School buses; requiring safety belts.
  • HB282: Unemployment compensation; effect of failure to maintain employment records.
  • HB741: State agencies; Comptroller shall develop policies to reduce costs of collecting debts owed thereto.
  • HB1554: Residential Property Disclosure Act; seller of historic property to provide notice to purchaser.