VA HB 964
vetoedVoter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did VA HB 964 pass?
No. VA HB 964 passed the legislature but was vetoed. Latest recorded action (2026-04-11): Governor's recommendation received by House
What is VA HB 964 about?
Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications. Provides that any person who loses his political rights as a result of a felony conviction shall be invested with those rights upon his release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote. The bill directs the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to transmit to the Department of Elections certain information for incarcerated persons with a pending date of release and requires the Department of Elections to process the information and make the necessary changes to the voter registration system to permit such persons to register to vote by the date of the person's scheduled date of release. On the date of an incarcerated person's release, the appropriate authority is required by the bill to provide a voter registration application, information on returning the form by mail or completing it by electronic means, and an official release document to serve as a safety net for voter registration. The bill also amends the language regarding adjudications of mental incompetency for purposes of being qualified to vote; a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until that capacity has been reestablished. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, contingent upon the approval of the constitutional amendments at the November 3, 2026, general election. This bill is identical to SB 162.
Who sponsors VA HB 964?
Marcia S. "Cia" Price is the primary sponsor of VA HB 964, joined by 35 cosponsors.
Description
Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications. Provides that any person who loses his political rights as a result of a felony conviction shall be invested with those rights upon his release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote. The bill directs the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to transmit to the Department of Elections certain information for incarcerated persons with a pending date of release and requires the Department of Elections to process the information and make the necessary changes to the voter registration system to permit such persons to register to vote by the date of the person's scheduled date of release. On the date of an incarcerated person's release, the appropriate authority is required by the bill to provide a voter registration application, information on returning the form by mail or completing it by electronic means, and an official release document to serve as a safety net for voter registration. The bill also amends the language regarding adjudications of mental incompetency for purposes of being qualified to vote; a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until that capacity has been reestablished. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, contingent upon the approval of the constitutional amendments at the November 3, 2026, general election. This bill is identical to SB 162.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-13
- Latest action
- 2026-04-11 — Governor's recommendation received by House
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Marcia S. "Cia" Priceprimary
- Jeion A. Wardcosponsor
- Kathy K.L. Trancosponsor
- Luke E. Toriancosponsor
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.cosponsor
- Shelly A. Simondscosponsor
- Marcus B. Simoncosponsor
- Briana D. Sewellcosponsor
- Holly M. Seiboldcosponsor
- David A. Reidcosponsor
- Atoosa R. Reasercosponsor
- Delores L. McQuinncosponsor
- Garrett McGuirecosponsor
- Marty Martinezcosponsor
- Alfonso H. Lopezcosponsor
- Destiny LeVere Bollingcosponsor
- Paul E. Krizekcosponsor
- Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
- Vivian E. Wattscosponsor
- Charniele L. Herringcosponsor
- Phil M. Hernandezcosponsor
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.cosponsor
- Dan I. Helmercosponsor
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.cosponsor
- Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
- Debra D. Gardnercosponsor
- Michael B. Fegganscosponsor
- Karrie K. Delaneycosponsor
- Rae Cousinscosponsor
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowlercosponsor
- Laura Jane Cohencosponsor
- Betsy B. Carrcosponsor
- Katrina Callsencosponsor
- Alex Q. Askewcosponsor
- Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
- Patrick A. Hopecosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-04-11
Governor's recommendation received by House
executive-veto-line-item
2026-03-16
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)
2026-03-14
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-03-14
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-13
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-13
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-13
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB964ER)
passage
2026-03-13
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-06
Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
substitution
2026-03-04
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-04
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
substitution
2026-03-04
Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to
2026-03-04
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-03
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-03
Rules suspended
2026-03-03
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
committee-passage
2026-03-02
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)
2026-02-24
Committee substitute printed 26108576D-S1
substitution
2026-02-24
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-24
Senate committee offered
2026-02-20
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)
2026-02-13
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-02-13
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-12
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-11
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-02-11
committee amendment agreed to
amendment-passage
2026-02-11
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-10
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-06
Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-06
House committee offered
2026-02-06
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 2-N)
2026-02-06
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-03
Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights
referral-committee
2026-02-02
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100136D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s)
2026-02-06 · pass · 16-6
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: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Eric Phillips: no
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
2026-02-06 · pass · 6-2
Member-level votes (8)
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
H VOTE:
2026-02-12 · pass · 63-34
Member-level votes (100)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- 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: yes
- 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: not voting
- 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: yes
- 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: 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: 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)
2026-03-03 · 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
Reported from Finance and Appropriations
2026-03-03 · pass · 10-5
Member-level votes (15)
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- Mark D. Obenshain: no
- Richard H. Stuart: no
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: no
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
Passage R
2026-03-04 · pass · 21-18
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: not voting
- 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:
2026-03-06 · pass · 63-33
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: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: not voting
- 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
- 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: not voting
- 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: no
- Bill Wiley: not voting
- 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
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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