Bill Commons

VA HB 78

enacted

Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards, certification of election, etc.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 78 pass?

Yes. VA HB 78 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-06. Latest recorded action (2026-04-06): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0060)

What is VA HB 78 about?

Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards; certification of election; grounds for removal; civil penalty. Provides that the certification of the results of an election is a clear ministerial duty of the local electoral boards and that a member of the local electoral board who neglects or refuses to perform such duty in accordance with law shall be subject to removal proceedings by the State Board of Elections and assessed a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000. The bill also authorizes the State Board of Elections to intervene and carry out the duties related to election certification in the event a local electoral board fails or refuses to do so.

Who sponsors VA HB 78?

Marcia S. "Cia" Price is the primary sponsor of VA HB 78, joined by 5 cosponsors.

Description

Elections administration; duties of local electoral boards; certification of election; grounds for removal; civil penalty. Provides that the certification of the results of an election is a clear ministerial duty of the local electoral boards and that a member of the local electoral board who neglects or refuses to perform such duty in accordance with law shall be subject to removal proceedings by the State Board of Elections and assessed a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000. The bill also authorizes the State Board of Elections to intervene and carry out the duties related to election certification in the event a local electoral board fails or refuses to do so.

Introduced
2025-12-31
Latest action
2026-04-06 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0060)
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Sponsors

  • Marcia S. "Cia" Priceprimary
  • Mamie E. Lockecosponsor
  • Lashrecse D. Airdcosponsor
  • Jackie H. Glasscosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Debra D. Gardnercosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-12-31

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101440D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2025-12-31

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-21

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB78)

  4. 2026-01-25

    Assigned HPE sub: Election Administration

    referral-committee

  5. 2026-01-26

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

  6. 2026-01-26

    Reconsidered by Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote)

  7. 2026-01-26

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)

  8. 2026-01-30

    House committee offered

  9. 2026-01-30

    Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  10. 2026-01-30

    Read first time

    reading-1

  11. 2026-02-02

    Read second time

    reading-2

  12. 2026-02-02

    committee amendments agreed to

    amendment-passage

  13. 2026-02-02

    Engrossed by House as amended

  14. 2026-02-03

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  15. 2026-02-03

    Read third time and passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  16. 2026-02-04

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. 2026-02-04

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  18. 2026-02-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB78)

  19. 2026-02-24

    Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)

    committee-passage

  20. 2026-02-26

    Rules suspended

  21. 2026-02-26

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-02-26

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-02-27

    Read third time

    reading-3

  24. 2026-02-27

    Passed by for the day

  25. 2026-03-02

    Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A)

    passage

  26. 2026-03-06

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  27. 2026-03-06

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB78ER)

    passage

  28. 2026-03-06

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB78)

  29. 2026-03-06

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  30. 2026-03-06

    Signed by President

    passage

  31. 2026-03-10

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  32. 2026-03-10

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

    executive-receipt

  33. 2026-04-06

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 60 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  34. 2026-04-06

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0060)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting

    2026-01-26 · pass · 6-2

    Member-level votes (8)
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • 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 with amendment(s)

    2026-01-30 · pass · 22-0

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • 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: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-03 · pass · 92-6

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • 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.: 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: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: not voting
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • 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: 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: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • 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: 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: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: no
  • Reported from Privileges and Elections

    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 · 25-15

    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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • 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: 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

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 78. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.