VirginiaState correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.
What it does
State correctional facilities; visitation policies; report. Requires the Department of Corrections to establish and publicly post on its website and in the lobby of each state correctional facility an objective dress code for individuals visiting a state correctional facility and specifies certain requirements for and limitations on what such dress code may include. The bill prohibits any state correctional facility from enforcing a dress code that is more restrictive than the dress code posted by the Department.The bill also prohibits any individual from being denied in-person visitation unless such individual is in clear violation of visitation rules or policies.
More detail
Prior to denying entry to a visitor, the bill requires the reasoning to be (i) reviewed in person by the facility administrative duty officer and (ii) approved by a regional administrator or superior. The bill requires the Department to submit a report annually on or before November 1 to the General Assembly and the Governor with information on visitors denied entry to state correctional facilities, including the following information disaggregated by facility and by month: (a) the number of visitors denied entry and (b) the reasoning for such denials, including the specific rules or policies such visitors were alleged to have violated.The bill requires the Department to convene a work group consisting of relevant stakeholders to consider goals and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations related to facilitating visitation within state correctional facilities and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026.
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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 8Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380)Latest
- Apr 8Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 380 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 14Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 14Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Minor
- Mar 12Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 12Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 12Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296)
- Mar 12Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB296ER)Major
- Mar 12EnrolledMinor
- Mar 5Senate amendments agreed to by House (71-Y 27-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Engrossed by Senate as amended
- Mar 3Senate Amendments agreed toMajor
- Mar 3Read third timeMinor
- Mar 2Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 2Rules suspended
- Feb 27Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27Senate committee offered
- Feb 6Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social ServicesMinor
- Feb 6Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 5Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Read second time and engrossedMinor
- Feb 4Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
- Feb 3Read first timeMinor
- Jan 30Reported from Public Safety (21-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296)
- Jan 16Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2Minor
- Jan 9Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Jan 9Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104772DIntroduced