VA HB 319
enactedBack-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did VA HB 319 pass?
Yes. VA HB 319 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589)
What is VA HB 319 about?
Secretary of Administration; work group on automatic voter registration. Directs the Department of Elections to convene a work group for the purpose of studying the implementation of back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration (AVR) in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the Office of the Attorney General, in addition to members of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections, general registrars, and organizations advocating for or working on voting rights and data privacy. The work group is tasked with considering the effectiveness, efficiency, and security of back-end, opt-out AVR as compared to Virginia's current front-end, opt-out process and identifying the costs and benefits of moving to such a system. The Secretary of Administration is required to submit a report of the work group's findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 658.
Who sponsors VA HB 319?
Phil M. Hernandez is the primary sponsor of VA HB 319, joined by 2 cosponsors.
Description
Secretary of Administration; work group on automatic voter registration. Directs the Department of Elections to convene a work group for the purpose of studying the implementation of back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration (AVR) in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the Office of the Attorney General, in addition to members of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections, general registrars, and organizations advocating for or working on voting rights and data privacy. The work group is tasked with considering the effectiveness, efficiency, and security of back-end, opt-out AVR as compared to Virginia's current front-end, opt-out process and identifying the costs and benefits of moving to such a system. The Secretary of Administration is required to submit a report of the work group's findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 658.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-10
- Latest action
- 2026-04-13 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Phil M. Hernandezprimary
- Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
- Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-01-10
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101442D
filing,introduction
2026-01-10
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-02-03
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
2026-02-06
Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration
referral-committee
2026-02-09
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
2026-02-13
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-15
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-16
Read second time and engrossed
reading-2
2026-02-17
Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-18
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-02-24
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 7-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-24
Senate committee offered
2026-02-24
Senate committee offered
2026-02-24
Committee substitute printed 26108498D-S1
substitution
2026-02-26
Rules suspended
2026-02-26
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-27
Read third time
reading-3
2026-02-27
Passed by for the day
2026-03-02
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
2026-03-02
Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to
2026-03-02
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
substitution
2026-03-02
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-04
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N 0-A)
2026-03-06
Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06
Senate requested conference committee
referral-committee
2026-03-09
House acceded to request
2026-03-10
Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-10
Senate Conferees: Rouse, Deeds, Williams Graves
2026-03-12
Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-12
House Conferees: Hernandez, Price, Cherry
2026-03-13
Conference Report released
2026-03-13
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 16-N 0-A)
committee-passage-favorable
2026-03-13
Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 31-N 0-A)
committee-passage-favorable
2026-03-16
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
2026-03-30
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-30
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB319ER)
passage
2026-03-30
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-31
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-31
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-31
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-04-06
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 589 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
2026-04-13
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589)
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends reporting
2026-02-09 · pass · 5-2
Member-level votes (8)
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: not voting
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Mike A. Cherry: no
Reported from Privileges and Elections
2026-02-13 · pass · 15-6
Member-level votes (22)
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Eric Phillips: no
H VOTE:
2026-02-17 · pass · 60-35
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: no
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: not voting
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: not voting
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: no
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute
2026-02-24 · pass · 8-7
Member-level votes (15)
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: no
- Bill DeSteph: no
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Tara A. Durant: no
- Russet Perry: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Emily M. Jordan: no
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)
2026-02-26 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-03-02 · pass · 21-19
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Christie New Craig: no
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: no
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Tara A. Durant: no
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: no
- T. Travis Hackworth: no
- Christopher T. Head: no
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: no
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
- Mark D. Obenshain: no
- Mark J. Peake: no
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: no
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Richard H. Stuart: no
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
- David R. Suetterlein: no
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
H VOTE:
2026-03-04 · fail · 0-96
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: no
- Bonita G. Anthony: no
- Alex Q. Askew: no
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: no
- Katrina Callsen: no
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
- Betsy B. Carr: no
- Stacey Annie Carroll: no
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: no
- Laura Jane Cohen: no
- Joshua G. Cole: no
- Nicole Cole: no
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: no
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: no
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: no
- Lindsey Dougherty: no
- Mark C. Downey: no
- Michael B. Feggans: no
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
- Lily V. Franklin: no
- Margaret A. Franklin: no
- Debra D. Gardner: no
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: not voting
- Jackie H. Glass: no
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: no
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: no
- Dan I. Helmer: no
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: no
- Phil M. Hernandez: no
- Charniele L. Herring: no
- M. Keith Hodges: no
- Patrick A. Hope: no
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: no
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Paul E. Krizek: no
- Amy J. Laufer: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: no
- Alfonso H. Lopez: no
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: no
- Marty Martinez: no
- John Chilton McAuliff: no
- Adele Y. McClure: no
- Garrett McGuire: no
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Kirk McPike: no
- Delores L. McQuinn: no
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: no
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: no
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: no
- Kimberly Pope Adams: no
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
- Sam Rasoul: no
- Atoosa R. Reaser: no
- David A. Reid: no
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: no
- Don Scott: no
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: no
- Briana D. Sewell: no
- Irene Shin: no
- Marcus B. Simon: no
- Shelly A. Simonds: no
- JJ Singh: no
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: no
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: no
- Virgil Thornton: no
- Luke E. Torian: no
- Kathy K.L. Tran: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: no
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: no
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: not voting
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: no
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: not voting
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Insist & Request R
2026-03-06 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
H VOTE:
2026-03-13 · pass · 61-31
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: not voting
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: not voting
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: not voting
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: not voting
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Kirk McPike: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: no
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: not voting
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: not voting
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Adopt Conference Committee Report R
2026-03-13 · pass · 21-16
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Christie New Craig: no
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: no
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Tara A. Durant: not voting
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: no
- T. Travis Hackworth: no
- Christopher T. Head: no
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: no
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: not voting
- Mark D. Obenshain: no
- Mark J. Peake: not voting
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: no
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Richard H. Stuart: no
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
- David R. Suetterlein: no
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
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