SB 396 VA

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Became Law

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.

• J.D. "Danny" Diggs Republican · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104758D · upper
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Transportation · upper
3. Jan 29, 2026 Reported from Transportation with amendment (9-Y 6-N) · upper
4. Feb 2, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
5. Feb 2, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
6. Feb 2, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
7. Feb 2, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
8. Feb 3, 2026 Read second time · upper
9. Feb 3, 2026 Transportation Amendment agreed to · upper
10. Feb 3, 2026 Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) · upper
11. Feb 4, 2026 Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N 0-A) · upper
12. Feb 4, 2026 Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate · upper
13. Feb 4, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) · upper
14. Feb 9, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
15. Feb 9, 2026 Read first time · lower
16. Feb 9, 2026 Referred to Committee on Transportation · lower
17. Feb 20, 2026 Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles · lower
18. Feb 24, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) · lower
19. Feb 26, 2026 Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N) · lower
20. Feb 26, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26108548D-H1 · lower
21. Feb 27, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396) · upper
22. Mar 2, 2026 Read second time · lower
23. Mar 3, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
24. Mar 3, 2026 Read third time · lower
25. Mar 3, 2026 committee substitute agreed to · lower
26. Mar 3, 2026 Engrossed by House - committee substitute · lower
27. Mar 3, 2026 Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A) · lower
28. Mar 5, 2026 House substitute agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A) · upper
29. Mar 11, 2026 Enrolled · upper
30. Mar 11, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB396ER) · upper
31. Mar 11, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396) · upper
32. Mar 11, 2026 Signed by President · upper
33. Mar 12, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
34. Mar 14, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 · upper
35. Mar 14, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
36. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 755 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive

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.

• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Transportation Substitute · PDF
• Transportation Substitute · HTML
• Department of Motor Vehicles Subcommittee Substitute · PDF
• Department of Motor Vehicles Subcommittee Substitute · HTML
• Engrossed · PDF
• Engrossed · HTML
• Transportation Amendment · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML