# Virginia HB2221: Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification, report. Virginia HB2221, Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification, report., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-04-02 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 1-N)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2221-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB2221 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification, report. - Status: to governor - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-07 - Last action: 2025-04-02, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 1-N) - Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 11 (538 yes, 22 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification; report. Requires that prior to the release or discharge into the community of any prisoner who has been confined for at least 90 days and does not possess a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security card, the Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Registrar of Vital Records, and any other relevant government agency, shall provide such prisoner with a certified copy of his birth certificate, his social security card, or a government-issued identification card, unless such provision of a government-issued identification card is not possible, in which case, the Department of Corrections shall provide the prisoner with a Department of Corrections Offender Identification form. The bill also specifies what identifying information must be included on such form and provides that such form shall be verified by the Department of Corrections and provided to the Department of Motor Vehicles in a secured format and by a means mutually agreed upon by both and shall serve as proof of identity and proof of Virginia residency and may serve as proof of legal presence in the United States or proof of a social security number, if one is available, as required to obtain a government-issued identification card for the 120 days immediately following the release or discharge of the prisoner identified on such form. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections and the Department of Motor Vehicles to cooperatively establish procedures for verifying a Department of Corrections Offender Identification form and all information contained therein and prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from accepting such form if the form or any of the information contained on the form cannot be verified. These provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill also directs the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) identify the number of prisoners released with and without identification cards; (ii) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security card; (iii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iv) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2025. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 39 | 1 | | | 2025-04-02 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 95 | 0 | | | 2025-02-18 | House | Senate Amendments agreed to by House | pass | 96 | 1 | | | 2025-02-14 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments | pass | 20 | 15 | | | 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2025-02-07 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2025-01-31 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2025-01-30 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 6 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (49) - 2025-04-02: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 1-N) (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0656) (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Reenrolled bill text (HB2221ER2) (House) - 2025-04-02: Reenrolled (House) - 2025-04-02: Enacted, Chapter 656 (Effective 07/01/26) (House) - 2025-04-02: Signed by President as reenrolled (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled (House) - 2025-04-02: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor) - 2025-04-02: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (95-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Governor's substitute printed (HB2221H2) (House) - 2025-03-05: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-05: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 5, 2025 (House) - 2025-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2221) (House) - 2025-02-23: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Enrolled bill reprinted 25106422D (House) - 2025-02-20: Enrolled (House) - 2025-02-20: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2221ER) (House) - 2025-02-20: Enrolled (House) - 2025-02-20: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-18: Senate Amendments agreed to by House (96-Y 1-N) (House) - 2025-02-14: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2221) (House) - 2025-02-14: Passed Senate with amendments (20-Y 15-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Reading of amendment waived (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Reading of amendment waived (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) - 2025-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-07: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (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 25106422D-H1 (House) - 2025-01-31: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-30: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-21: Assigned PS sub: Public Safety (House) - 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25104315D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079075.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079074.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075515.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075514.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-03-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074465.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074464.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073655.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059485.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059484.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053246.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050421.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047607.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1044317.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-01-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036807.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036806.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034674.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034509.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034673.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034508.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015598.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015597.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/1079075.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079074.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075515.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075514.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074465.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074464.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073655.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059485.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059484.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053246.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050421.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047607.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1044317.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036807.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036806.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034674.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034509.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034673.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1034508.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015598.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015597.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-HB2221-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).