VirginiaHB2502026 Regular SessionHouse

Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; Park Authorities Act, penalty.

Sponsored By: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; Park Authorities Act; penalty. Provides that every adult who is convicted of an offense prohibiting proximity to children, when the offense occurred on or after July 1, 2026, shall as part of his sentence be forever prohibited from going, for the purpose of having any contact whatsoever with children who are not in his custody, within 100 feet of the premises of any place owned or operated by an authority created pursuant to the Park Authorities Act that he knows or should know is a playground, athletic field or facility, or gymnasium.The bill also provides that any person convicted of an offense under the laws of any foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or the United States or any political subdivision thereof, similar to any offense set forth in current law shall be forever prohibited from going, for the purpose of having any contact whatsoever with children who are not in his custody, within 100 feet of the premises of any place owned or operated by an authority created pursuant to the Park Authorities Act that he knows or has reason to know is a playground, athletic field or facility, or gymnasium.A violation of the bill's provisions is punishable as a Class 6 felony.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Breaking distance rules is a felony

Violating any of these proximity or loitering bans is a Class 6 felony. This sets the criminal penalty for breaking the distance rules.

Lifetime 100-foot bans near schools and parks

The law defines which crimes trigger child‑proximity bans. It covers certain sex offenses, and since July 1, 2006, also failure to register when based on those crimes. For offenses on or after July 1, 2000, a convicted adult is forever banned from loitering within 100 feet of any primary, secondary, or high school he knows or should know. For offenses on or after July 1, 2006, the same 100‑foot loitering ban applies to child day programs. For offenses on or after July 1, 2008, a convicted adult may not go within 100 feet of locality‑owned playgrounds, athletic fields or facilities, or gymnasiums when his purpose is to have contact with children not in his custody. Beginning July 1, 2026, that same 100‑foot contact ban also applies at places run by park authorities. These bans also apply to people convicted in other states, federal courts, or other countries for similar crimes. The bans are permanent and are part of the sentence.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Vivian E. Watts

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 332 • No: 0

House vote 3/3/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/11/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0096)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 96 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB250)

    3/11/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB250ER)

    3/10/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/10/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/10/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/10/2026House
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  12. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

    2/27/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    2/27/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    2/27/2026Senate
  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB250)

    2/26/2026House
  16. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/26/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/26/2026 12:59 pm)

    2/26/2026House
  19. Rules suspended

    2/26/2026Senate
  20. Committee substitute printed 26108637D-S1

    2/25/2026Senate
  21. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  22. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    2/23/2026Senate
  23. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/18/2026Senate
  24. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  25. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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