Bill Commons

VA SB 396

enacted

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper

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Quick answers

Did VA SB 396 pass?

Yes. VA SB 396 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 755 (effective 7/1/2026)

What is VA SB 396 about?

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224.

Who sponsors VA SB 396?

J.D. "Danny" Diggs is the primary sponsor of VA SB 396.

Description

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 755 (effective 7/1/2026)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • J.D. "Danny" Diggsprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 755 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  2. 2026-03-14

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

    executive-receipt

  3. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-12

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  5. 2026-03-11

    Signed by President

    passage

  6. 2026-03-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396)

  7. 2026-03-11

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB396ER)

    passage

  8. 2026-03-11

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  9. 2026-03-05

    House substitute agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A)

    substitution

  10. 2026-03-03

    Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A)

    passage

  11. 2026-03-03

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  12. 2026-03-03

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  13. 2026-03-03

    Read third time

    reading-3

  14. 2026-03-03

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  15. 2026-03-02

    Read second time

    reading-2

  16. 2026-02-27

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396)

  17. 2026-02-26

    Committee substitute printed 26108548D-H1

    substitution

  18. 2026-02-26

    Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  19. 2026-02-24

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

    substitution

  20. 2026-02-20

    Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles

    referral-committee

  21. 2026-02-09

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

    referral-committee

  22. 2026-02-09

    Read first time

    reading-1

  23. 2026-02-09

    Placed on Calendar

  24. 2026-02-04

    Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  25. 2026-02-04

    Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate

  26. 2026-02-04

    Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N 0-A)

    failure,reading-3

  27. 2026-02-03

    Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-02-03

    Transportation Amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  29. 2026-02-03

    Read second time

    reading-2

  30. 2026-02-02

    Passed by for the day

  31. 2026-02-02

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  32. 2026-02-02

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  33. 2026-02-02

    Rules suspended

  34. 2026-01-29

    Reported from Transportation with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  35. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

    referral-committee

  36. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104758D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from Transportation with amendment

    2026-01-29 · pass · 9-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Lamont Bagby: no
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
  • Constitutional reading dispensed R

    2026-02-02 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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

    2026-02-04 · fail · 19-21

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: no
    • Lamont Bagby: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: no
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: no
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: no
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: no
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: no
    • L. Louise Lucas: no
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: no
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: no
    • Russet Perry: no
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: no
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: no
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: no
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • Reconsider R

    2026-02-04 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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
  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-02-24 · pass · 10-0

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
  • Reported from Transportation with substitute

    2026-02-26 · pass · 21-0

    Member-level votes (21)
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-03 · pass · 91-7

    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: not voting
    • 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: 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: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • 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: no
    • Kirk McPike: 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: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: no
  • Concur House Substitute R

    2026-03-05 · pass · 25-14

    Member-level votes (40)
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: no
    • Angelia Williams Graves: no
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: no
    • Lamont Bagby: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: no
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • 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: no
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: not voting
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: no
    • 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

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:

Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:

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