# Virginia HB212: Election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials, penalty.

Virginia HB212, Election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials, penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Debra D. Gardner (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-24 (Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (5-Y 10-N)) (as of 2026-11-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB212-2026
- As of: 2026-11-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB212
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials, penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-02-24, Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (5-Y 10-N)
- Sponsor: Debra D. Gardner (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Privileges and Elections
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (87 yes, 55 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Elections; election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials; penalty. Removes the requirement that a person willfully hinder or prevent an election official from administering elections in order to be found guilty of intimidation and threats toward such official, which is a Class 5 felony under current law.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Debra D. Gardner (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections | fail | 5 | 10 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 35 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 14 | 8 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 2 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-02-24: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (5-Y 10-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 8-N) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HPE sub: Campaigns and Candidates (House)
- 2026-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB212) (House)
- 2026-01-08: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:12 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-07: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2026-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104241D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083105.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083104.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. (signed)
- 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)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083105.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083104.PDF)

## Related
- [HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB20-2026)
- [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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB212-2026 (as of 2026-11-06).