Bill Commons

VA HB 964

vetoed

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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
Status date
—
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

  1. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100136D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-02-02

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  4. 2026-02-03

    Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights

    referral-committee

  5. 2026-02-06

    House subcommittee offered

  6. 2026-02-06

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 2-N)

  7. 2026-02-06

    House committee offered

  8. 2026-02-06

    Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  9. 2026-02-10

    Read first time

    reading-1

  10. 2026-02-11

    Read second time

    reading-2

  11. 2026-02-11

    committee amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  12. 2026-02-11

    Engrossed by House as amended

  13. 2026-02-12

    Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  14. 2026-02-13

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  15. 2026-02-13

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-02-20

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  17. 2026-02-24

    Senate committee offered

  18. 2026-02-24

    Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)

    committee-passage

  19. 2026-02-24

    Committee substitute printed 26108576D-S1

    substitution

  20. 2026-03-02

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  21. 2026-03-03

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

    committee-passage

  22. 2026-03-03

    Rules suspended

  23. 2026-03-03

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

  24. 2026-03-03

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  25. 2026-03-04

    Read third time

    reading-3

  26. 2026-03-04

    Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to

  27. 2026-03-04

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  28. 2026-03-04

    Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    passage

  29. 2026-03-06

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)

    substitution

  30. 2026-03-13

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  31. 2026-03-13

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB964ER)

    passage

  32. 2026-03-13

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  33. 2026-03-13

    Signed by President

    passage

  34. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  35. 2026-03-14

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

    executive-receipt

  36. 2026-03-16

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  37. 2026-04-11

    Governor's recommendation received by House

    executive-veto-line-item

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

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB964

Attribution

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

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 964. 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.
  • Some documents have no extracted text yet, so version comparison may be limited.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.