Bill Commons

VA HB 398

enacted

Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; created, prohibited practices, penalties.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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
Status date
—
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

  1. 2026-01-12

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103448D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-12

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-19

    Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-02-05

    House subcommittee offered

  5. 2026-02-05

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)

  6. 2026-02-10

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)

  7. 2026-02-10

    Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  8. 2026-02-11

    Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

    referral-committee

  9. 2026-02-13

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)

  10. 2026-02-13

    Reported from Appropriations (19-Y 3-N)

    committee-passage

  11. 2026-02-15

    Read first time

    reading-1

  12. 2026-02-16

    Read second time

    reading-2

  13. 2026-02-16

    committee amendments agreed to

    amendment-passage

  14. 2026-02-16

    Engrossed by House as amended

  15. 2026-02-17

    Read third time and passed House (88-Y 5-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  16. 2026-02-18

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. 2026-02-18

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    referral-committee

  18. 2026-02-25

    Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 1-N)

    committee-passage

  19. 2026-02-26

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)

  20. 2026-02-27

    Rules suspended

  21. 2026-02-27

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-02-27

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-03-02

    Read third time

    reading-3

  24. 2026-03-02

    Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  25. 2026-03-05

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  26. 2026-03-05

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB398ER)

    passage

  27. 2026-03-05

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)

  28. 2026-03-05

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  29. 2026-03-05

    Signed by President

    passage

  30. 2026-03-10

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  31. 2026-03-10

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  32. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 602 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  33. 2026-04-13

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)

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

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB398

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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