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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 296

State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (1)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 8:07 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 5, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 3, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 2, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 27, 2026
Senate		Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendmentspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 30, 2026
House		Reported from Public SafetypassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reportingpassSet your home in Virginia to see

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