# Virginia HB2071: DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans.

Virginia HB2071, DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-03-21 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0235)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2071-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2071
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-03-21, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0235)
- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 15 (577 yes, 95 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Department of Veterans Services; powers and duties of Commissioner; identification of incarcerated veterans. Provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall assist the Department of Corrections, sheriffs, and local and regional jails in utilizing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system to identify veterans incarcerated in state prisons and local and regional jails to help such veterans prepare for release or reentry, reduce recidivism and homelessness, connect such veterans to resources to address the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder, and divert eligible veterans to treatment dockets. This bill incorporates HB 2522 and is identical to SB 1251.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-21 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 95 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 1 | 95 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-17 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-21 | House | Referred from General Laws and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (53)

- 2025-03-21: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0235) (Governor)
- 2025-03-21: Approved by Governor-Chapter 235 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-03-14: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2071) (House)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2071ER) (House)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Amended by conference committee
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-20: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (38-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Senators: Carroll Foy, Aird, Craig (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Delegates: Thomas, Simon, Ballard (House)
- 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2025-02-20: House acceded to request (House)
- 2025-02-20: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 95-N) (House)
- 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2071) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Committee substitute printed 25107709D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2071) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-03: Public Safety Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-31: Committee substitute printed 25106515D-H1 (House)
- 2025-01-31: Incorporates HB2522(Fowler) (House)
- 2025-01-31: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-30: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-28: Assigned PS sub: Public Safety (House)
- 2025-01-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2071) (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred from General Laws and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104525D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072373.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072372.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068844.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068843.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2025-02-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066468.HTML)
- Substitute, 2025-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059474.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059473.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036799.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036798.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034666.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034590.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034665.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034589.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014970.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014968.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072373.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072372.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068844.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068843.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066468.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059474.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059473.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036799.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036798.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034666.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034590.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034665.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034589.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014970.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014968.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-HB2071-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).