HB 296 VA
State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.
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Summary
State correctional facilities; visitation policies; report. Requires the Department of Corrections to establish and publicly post on its website and in the lobby of each state correctional facility an objective dress code for individuals visiting a state correctional facility and specifies certain requirements for and limitations on what such dress code may include. The bill prohibits any state correctional facility from enforcing a dress code that is more restrictive than the dress code posted by the Department.The bill also prohibits any individual from being denied in-person visitation unless such individual is in clear violation of visitation rules or policies. Prior to denying entry to a visitor, the bill requires the reasoning to be (i) reviewed in person by the facility administrative duty officer and (ii) approved by a regional administrator or superior. The bill requires the Department to submit a report annually on or before November 1 to the General Assembly and the Governor with information on visitors denied entry to state correctional facilities, including the following information disaggregated by facility and by month: (a) the number of visitors denied entry and (b) the reasoning for such denials, including the specific rules or policies such visitors were alleged to have violated.The bill requires the Department to convene a work group consisting of relevant stakeholders to consider goals and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations related to facilitating visitation within state correctional facilities and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026.
Sponsor (1)
- Holly M. Seibold Democratic · primary
1 coauthor / cosponsor
- Irene Shin Democratic · cosponsor
Action history (31)
- Jan 9, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104772D · lower
- Jan 9, 2026 Referred to Committee on Public Safety · lower
- Jan 16, 2026 Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 · lower
- Jan 22, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296) · lower
- Jan 29, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) · lower
- Jan 30, 2026 Reported from Public Safety (21-Y 0-N) · lower
- Feb 3, 2026 Read first time · lower
- Feb 4, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
- Feb 4, 2026 Read second time and engrossed · lower
- Feb 5, 2026 Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A) · lower
- Feb 6, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
- Feb 6, 2026 Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services · upper
- Feb 27, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
- Feb 27, 2026 Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (15-Y 0-N) · upper
- Mar 2, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
- Mar 2, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
- Mar 2, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
- Mar 3, 2026 Read third time · upper
- Mar 3, 2026 Senate Amendments agreed to · upper
- Mar 3, 2026 Engrossed by Senate as amended · upper
- Mar 3, 2026 Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
- Mar 5, 2026 Senate amendments agreed to by House (71-Y 27-N 0-A) · lower
- Mar 12, 2026 Enrolled · lower
- Mar 12, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB296ER) · lower
- Mar 12, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296) · lower
- Mar 12, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
- Mar 12, 2026 Signed by President · upper
- Mar 14, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 · lower
- Mar 14, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
- Apr 8, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 380 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
- Apr 8, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380) · executive
Text versions (10)
The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.
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