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 HB 173.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0572)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 572 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)
- 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 Senate and House (SB276ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 18Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)
- 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 (64-Y 32-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12Senate acceded to request
- Vote recorded Reconsider R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12House Conferees: Anthony, Gardner, McLaughlin
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 12Senate Conferees: Williams Graves, Carroll Foy, DeSteph
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 12Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 12House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 12House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 12House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- Mar 12Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Mar 12House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Mar 11Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 11committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 11Read third timeMinor
- Mar 10Read second timeMinor
- Mar 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)
- Vote recorded Reported from Rules with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Committee substitute printed 26108953D-H1Major
- Mar 6Reported from Rules with substitute (13-Y 5-N)Minor
- Mar 2Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Reconsidered by Rules (Voice Vote)
- Mar 2Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)Major
- Mar 1Assigned HRUL sub: Studies SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 12Referred to Committee on RulesMinor
- Feb 12Read first timeMinor
- Feb 12Placed on Calendar
- Feb 9Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)
- Feb 6Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 6Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 5Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 5Rules suspended
- Feb 5Committee substitute printed 26107155D-S1Major
- Feb 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)
- Jan 23Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social ServicesMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104960DIntroduced