HB173
State correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 18, 2026
House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
Chief Patron:
Bonita Anthony (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. State correctional facilities; visitation policies; annual report.
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. The bill provides that each in-person visit shall last a minimum of two hours unless shortened at the request of either ... (More) 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. The bill also requires the Department to collect and publish data in an annual report to the General Assembly. 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. The provisions of subsection F of § 53.1-1.2 shall become effective on July 1, 2027. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/06/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101239D
- 01/06/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 01/16/2026 - House: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2
- 01/27/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 01/29/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/29/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/05/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- 02/05/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/06/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 02/06/2026 - House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 4-N 1-A)
- 02/06/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 02/06/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26107327D-H1
- 02/06/2026 - House: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
- 02/10/2026 - House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
- 02/11/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
- 02/11/2026 - House: Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
- 02/13/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/16/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/17/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (65-Y 31-N 0-A)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26108760D-S1
- 03/02/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26109174D-S2
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/06/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/10/2026 - House: Senate substitute rejected by House (2-Y 97-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Senate requested conference committee
- 03/12/2026 - House: House acceded to request
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Anthony, Gardner, McLaughlin
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Carroll Foy, Jones, DeSteph
- 03/13/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/13/2026 - House: Conference substitute printed 26109986D-H2
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 31-N 0-A)
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/18/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173)
