VA HJ 2
Status unknownConstitutional amendment (second reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did VA HJ 2 pass?
The current status of VA HJ 2 is not known from the official record. Latest recorded action (2026-03-31): Signed by Speaker
What is VA HJ 2 about?
Constitutional amendment (second reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.
Who sponsors VA HJ 2?
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker is the primary sponsor of VA HJ 2, joined by 63 cosponsors.
Description
Constitutional amendment (second reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.
- Introduced
- 2025-11-17
- Latest action
- 2026-03-31 — Signed by Speaker
- Bill type
- constitutional amendment
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parkerprimary
- Vivian E. Wattscosponsor
- Jeion A. Wardcosponsor
- Kathy K.L. Trancosponsor
- Luke E. Toriancosponsor
- Virgil Thorntoncosponsor
- Joshua E. Thomascosponsor
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.cosponsor
- JJ Singhcosponsor
- Shelly A. Simondscosponsor
- Marcus B. Simoncosponsor
- Mark D. Sicklescosponsor
- Irene Shincosponsor
- Briana D. Sewellcosponsor
- Holly M. Seiboldcosponsor
- Don Scottcosponsor
- David A. Reidcosponsor
- Atoosa R. Reasercosponsor
- Sam Rasoulcosponsor
- Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
- Kimberly Pope Adamscosponsor
- May Nivarcosponsor
- Candi Mundon Kingcosponsor
- Leslie Chambers Mehtacosponsor
- Delores L. McQuinncosponsor
- Adele Y. McClurecosponsor
- John Chilton McAuliffcosponsor
- Marty Martinezcosponsor
- Michelle Lopes Maldonadocosponsor
- Alfonso H. Lopezcosponsor
- Destiny LeVere Bollingcosponsor
- Amy J. Laufercosponsor
- Paul E. Krizekcosponsor
- Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
- Michael J. Jonescosponsor
- Patrick A. Hopecosponsor
- Charniele L. Herringcosponsor
- Phil M. Hernandezcosponsor
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.cosponsor
- Dan I. Helmercosponsor
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.cosponsor
- Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
- Jackie H. Glasscosponsor
- Debra D. Gardnercosponsor
- Lily V. Franklincosponsor
- Michael B. Fegganscosponsor
- Mark C. Downeycosponsor
- Lindsey Doughertycosponsor
- Karrie K. Delaneycosponsor
- Rae Cousinscosponsor
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowlercosponsor
- Nicole Colecosponsor
- Joshua G. Colecosponsor
- Laura Jane Cohencosponsor
- Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
- Rodney T. Willettcosponsor
- Betsy B. Carrcosponsor
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegiecosponsor
- Katrina Callsencosponsor
- David L. Bulovacosponsor
- Alex Q. Askewcosponsor
- Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
- Jessica L. Andersoncosponsor
- Stacey Annie Carrollcosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2025-11-17
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100156D
filing,introduction
2025-11-17
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-01-14
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N)
committee-passage
2026-01-14
Taken up
2026-01-14
Engrossed by House
2026-01-14
Agreed to by House (65-Y 33-N 0-A)
2026-01-14
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
referral-committee
2026-01-14
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 3-N 2-A)
committee-passage
2026-01-15
Read second time
reading-2
2026-01-16
Read third time
reading-3
2026-01-16
Floor offered Senator McDougle Amendments
2026-01-16
Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote)
2026-01-16
Senator McDougle Amendments rejected (Voice Vote)
amendment-failure
2026-01-16
Passed Senate
passage
2026-01-16
Agreed to by Senate
2026-03-30
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ2ER)
passage
2026-03-30
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-31
Signed by Speaker
passage
Versions
Documents
Votes
Reported from Privileges and Elections
2026-01-14 · pass · 15-6
Member-level votes (37)
- 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
- David L. Bulova: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Nicole Cole: 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: not voting
- Eric Phillips: no
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: abstain
- Bill DeSteph: abstain
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Tara A. Durant: not voting
- Russet Perry: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Emily M. Jordan: not voting
H VOTE:
2026-01-14 · pass · 64-33
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: not voting
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- David L. 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: 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
- 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
- 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
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- Candi Mundon King: yes
- 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
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Mark D. Sickles: 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
Passage R
2026-01-16 · pass · 21-18
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: 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
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: no
- T. Travis Hackworth: no
- Ghazala F. Hashmi: yes
- Christopher T. Head: no
- 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: no
- Mark J. Peake: no
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: not voting
- 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
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=HJ 2. 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.