VirginiaState correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report.
What it does
State correctional facilities; visitation policies; work group. Sets additional visitation standards for visitors to state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Department of Corrections (the Department) to provide extended or additional visitation access for long-distance visitors.
More detail
The bill provides that each in-person visit shall last a minimum of two hours unless shortened at the request of either the visitor or the incarcerated individual, or in response to an active security event. The bill also provides that visitation privileges may be suspended only for conduct occurring during visitation that presents a direct and substantial threat to the physical safety of participants or the security of the correctional facility. The bill provides a timeline and process for appealing any suspension of visitation rights. Finally, the bill directs the Department to convene a work group to consider and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations regarding visitation. The work group is required to report its findings and specific legislative and policy recommendations to the General Assembly by October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 276.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0571)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 571 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB173ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 18Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 31-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12Senate Conferees: Carroll Foy, Jones, DeSteph
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 12House Conferees: Anthony, Gardner, McLaughlin
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 12House acceded to request
- Mar 11Senate requested conference committeeMinor
- Vote recorded Insist & Request R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Mar 10Senate substitute rejected by House (2-Y 97-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 9Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 9Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- Mar 9Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- Mar 9Read third timeMinor
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Mar 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- Mar 5Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 5Rules suspended
- Mar 5Committee substitute printed 26109174D-S2Major
- Mar 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108760D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)Minor
- Feb 27Senate committee offered
- Feb 18Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social ServicesMinor
- Feb 18Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 17Read third time and passed House (65-Y 31-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 16committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Read first timeMinor
- Feb 11Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Reported from Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
- Feb 6Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public SafetyMinor
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Committee substitute printed 26107327D-H1Major
- Feb 6Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 4-N 1-A)Minor
- Feb 6House committee offered
- Feb 5Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29House subcommittee offered
- Jan 16Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2Minor
- Jan 6Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Jan 6Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101239DIntroduced