# Virginia HB173: State correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report.

Virginia HB173, State correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Bonita G. Anthony (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0571)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB173-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB173
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: State correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0571)
- Sponsor: Bonita G. Anthony (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 17 (343 yes, 193 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

State correctional facilities; visitation policies; work group. Sets additional visitation standards for visitors to state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Department of Corrections (the Department) to provide extended or additional visitation access for long-distance visitors. The bill provides that each in-person visit shall last a minimum of two hours unless shortened at the request of either the visitor or the incarcerated individual, or in response to an active security event. The bill also provides that visitation privileges may be suspended only for conduct occurring during visitation that presents a direct and substantial threat to the physical safety of participants or the security of the correctional facility. The bill provides a timeline and process for appealing any suspension of visitation rights. Finally, the bill directs the Department to convene a work group to consider and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations regarding visitation. The work group is required to report its findings and specific legislative and policy recommendations to the General Assembly by October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 276.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Longer prison visits and help for long-distance families: benefit, medium. The law expands in-person visitation at state prisons. The Department must keep seating and schedules at the prison’s maximum safe seating capacity. Each visit lasts at least two hours, and can go longer if seats are open. Long‑distance visitors (150 driving miles or more away) get extended or extr…
- Stronger protections against unfair visit bans: benefit, medium. Visits can be limited only for conduct during a visit that poses a direct and substantial safety threat. Nonviolent infractions, housing status, and unrelated discipline or screening results cannot be the sole reason to deny, suspend, or revoke visits unless visitation is an ongoing security risk.…
- Corrections work group to boost visitation: benefit, low. The Department of Corrections forms a work group with advocates, experts, attorneys, and staff. The group reviews ways to balance physical affection with security, create a family visitation program, allow extended holiday meals, expand access for minors and infrequent visitors, and restore 2019 vi…
- Clear search rules and contact visits: mixed, low. Staff must tell visitors what items are allowed and not allowed. If space exists, staff can hold a legal item that is not allowed inside and return it when you leave. Where available, visitors are checked by scanners/wands and detector dogs. If checks show no contraband and you are eligible, a cont…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bonita G. Anthony (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 65 | 31 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 2 | 97 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 65 | 31 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 5 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 17 | 4 | 1 |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 2 |   |

## Actions (56)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0571) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 571 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB173ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 31-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Anthony, Gardner, McLaughlin (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Carroll Foy, Jones, DeSteph (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate substitute rejected by House (2-Y 97-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Committee substitute printed 26109174D-S2 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108760D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (65-Y 31-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107327D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-06: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 4-N 1-A) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House)
- 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB173) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-06: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101239D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218779.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218778.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214266.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214265.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211096.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211093.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211092.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195933.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195932.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185714.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185463.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185713.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185462.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132038.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132445.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132037.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132444.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100598.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100722.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101122.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100597.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100721.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101121.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082723.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082722.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218779.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218778.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214266.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214265.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211096.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211093.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211092.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195933.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195932.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185714.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185463.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185713.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185462.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132038.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132445.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132037.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132444.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100598.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100722.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101122.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100597.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100721.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101121.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082723.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082722.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB173-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).