# Virginia HB1794: Elections; primary dates, presidential year primaries.

Virginia HB1794, Elections; primary dates, presidential year primaries., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-04-02 (House sustained Governor's veto) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1794-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1794
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Elections; primary dates, presidential year primaries.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-04-02, House sustained Governor's veto
- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (180 yes, 38 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Elections; primary dates; presidential year primaries. Provides that all primaries for offices to be filled at the November election in presidential election years shall be held on the date of the presidential primary. With respect to candidates for election in November of a presidential election year, the bill also lifts the requirement that petition signatures must be collected after January 1 of the presidential election year. The bill adjusts campaign finance filing deadlines for candidates in presidential year elections to account for the March primary date. This bill is identical to SB 1119.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-14 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 21 | 15 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 12 | 3 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 78 | 20 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (31)

- 2025-04-02: House sustained Governor's veto (House)
- 2025-03-24: Vetoed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025 (House)
- 2025-02-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1794) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1794ER) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-02-19: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-14: Passed Senate (21-Y 15-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from Privileges and Elections (12-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1794) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (78-Y 20-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Printed as engrossed 25101115D-E (House)
- 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2025-02-03: Privileges and Elections Amendment agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-03: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2025-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-31: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1794) (House)
- 2025-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-26: Assigned PE sub: Election Administration (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101115D (House)

## Bill text

- Veto Explanation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073228.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054564.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054563.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2025-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037716.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037715.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-01-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037543.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037546.HTML)
- Amendment, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030681.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013003.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013002.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073228.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054564.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054563.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037716.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037715.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037543.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1037546.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030681.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013003.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013002.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [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-HB1794-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).