A bill put forward by State Sen. Timmy F. French seeks to modernize Front Royal’s charter by specifying the procedures for choosing and removing the town manager, the Virginia State Senate reports. Virginia State Senate.
Filed as SB385 on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, the measure is officially titled: “Front Royal, Town of; amending charter, relating to town manager.”
Presented below is a summary, based on an analysis of the legislative text, which may involve some clarification of bill language for reader understanding.
Overall, the legislation amends the town of Front Royal’s charter to clarify how the town manager is chosen, what qualifications are needed, and under what conditions the town manager may be removed. It requires the council to select a town manager as the chief administrative officer, solely on the basis of executive and administrative abilities, who must live in the town while serving. Council members are not allowed to act as the town manager within their term of office. The measure also gives the council the authority to remove the manager for cause, but guarantees the manager the right to receive written reasons and a public hearing prior to a final decision. Council can suspend the manager during this process and appoint a qualified interim during any absence or incapacity of the manager.
Sen. Timmy F. French (Republican-1st District) is the sole sponsor of the proposal.
Since the start of the session, French has brought forward two additional measures.
French, a Republican, was elected to the Virginia Senate in 2024 to represent the 1st Senate district, succeeding T. Monty Mason.
In Virginia, the process for a bill to become law begins with its introduction in the House of Delegates or Senate. After the bill is assigned to one or more committees for review and potential changes, it may move to a floor vote in each chamber. If approved by both, it is forwarded to the governor, who can sign, veto or allow it to become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly holds its regular session each year beginning on the second Monday of January. Hundreds of measures are introduced every session but only a fraction ultimately advance into law.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Timmy F. French | SB385 | 01/14/2026 | Front Royal, Town of; amending charter, relating to town manager. |
| 2026 | Timmy F. French and T. Travis Hackworth | SB383 | 01/14/2026 | Invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners, civil penalty. |
| 2026 | Timmy F. French | SB390 | 01/14/2026 | Apple Board; repealing Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, delayed effective date, report. |
| 2025 | Timmy F. French | SB857 | 01/08/2025 | Dam Safety Act; powers and duties of DCR, rights and requirements of dam owners, civil penalty. |
Information for this report was sourced from the Virginia State Senate. Source materials are available here.
