VA HB 398
enactedSafeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; created, prohibited practices, penalties.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did VA HB 398 pass?
Yes. VA HB 398 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)
What is VA HB 398 about?
Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; prohibited practices; penalties. Creates the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act to regulate the practices of persons seeking to receive compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting any individual regarding any veterans' benefits matter, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill is identical to SB 315.
Who sponsors VA HB 398?
Charniele L. Herring is the primary sponsor of VA HB 398.
Description
Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; prohibited practices; penalties. Creates the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act to regulate the practices of persons seeking to receive compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting any individual regarding any veterans' benefits matter, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill is identical to SB 315.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-12
- Latest action
- 2026-04-13 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Charniele L. Herringprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-04-13
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 602 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
2026-03-10
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-03-10
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-05
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-05
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-05
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)
2026-03-05
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB398ER)
passage
2026-03-05
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-02
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-02
Read third time
reading-3
2026-02-27
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-27
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27
Rules suspended
2026-02-26
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)
2026-02-25
Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 1-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-18
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
referral-committee
2026-02-18
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-17
Read third time and passed House (88-Y 5-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-16
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-02-16
committee amendments agreed to
amendment-passage
2026-02-16
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-15
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-13
Reported from Appropriations (19-Y 3-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-13
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
2026-02-11
Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
referral-committee
2026-02-10
Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-10
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)
2026-02-05
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-05
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-19
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
referral-committee
2026-01-12
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
referral-committee
2026-01-12
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103448D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
2026-02-05 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (8)
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: not voting
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s)
2026-02-10 · pass · 22-0
Member-level votes (22)
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
Subcommittee recommends reporting
2026-02-13 · pass · 5-2
Member-level votes (7)
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: no
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
- James W. Morefield: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
Reported from Appropriations
2026-02-13 · pass · 19-3
Member-level votes (22)
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: no
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Bill Wiley: no
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
H VOTE:
2026-02-17 · pass · 88-5
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: not voting
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: no
- Timothy P. Griffin: yes
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: no
- Karen Hamilton: yes
- 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: yes
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
- 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: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- Eric Phillips: yes
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: no
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: not voting
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: no
- Irene Shin: not voting
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Wendell S. Walker: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: yes
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Madison Whittle: yes
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Eric R. Zehr: yes
Reported from General Laws and Technology
2026-02-25 · pass · 14-1
Member-level votes (15)
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Danica A. Roem: no
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)
2026-02-27 · pass · 37-0
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: not voting
- 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: not voting
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: not voting
- 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 · 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
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
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Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:
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