Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 686
Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- David R. Suetterlein (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic. Clarifies that a court may order, for a first violation of texting and driving, the satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a conviction.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 3, 2026 House | Reported from Transportation | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 25, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 2, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 29, 2026 Senate | Reported from Transportation | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 8, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0518) - Apr 8, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 518 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 14, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB686) - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB686ER) - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled - Mar 6, 2026 · House
Passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 6, 2026 · House
Read third time - Mar 5, 2026 · House
Read second time - Mar 3, 2026 · House
Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N) - Feb 25, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N) - Feb 20, 2026 · House
Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy - Feb 10, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Transportation - Feb 10, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 10, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB686) - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) - Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Jan 29, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Transportation (14-Y 0-N) - Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on Transportation - Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100678D