VirginiaHB2862026 Regular SessionHouse

Virginia National Guard; orders transmitted to and through Governor, annual reports.

Sponsored By: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Virginia National Guard; reports to the General Assembly; state militias; work group; report. Requires the Adjutant General to submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing federal and state deployments of the Virginia National Guard and other matters relating to retention, readiness, funding, and resources. The bill prohibits the Governor from calling forth the Virginia National Guard for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, or coercing, or attempting to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, a person in giving his vote or ballot or to deter or prevent such person from voting. The bill additionally prohibits armed militia from another state, territory, or district from entering the Commonwealth for the purpose of active military duty over the objection of the Governor without meeting certain conditions. The bill allows certain members of the General Assembly to request that the Attorney General assess the legality of the deployment of the (i) National Guard of another state within the Commonwealth or (ii) Virginia National Guard. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs to convene a work group to assess the most appropriate manner and process by which the Governor and members of the General Assembly should respond to deployments of the Virginia National Guard. This bill is identical to SB 337.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Guard can receive federal forfeiture funds

The law treats the Virginia National Guard as a state law‑enforcement agency only to receive property or money shared under federal laws. These are 18 U.S.C. 981(e)(2), 19 U.S.C. 1616a, and 21 U.S.C. 881(e)(1)(A). This limited designation does not change the Guard’s other duties or status.

Virginia Guard barred from voter intimidation

The law bans calling the Virginia National Guard to intimidate, threaten, or coerce anyone about their vote or ballot. It also bans using the Guard to deter or stop someone from voting in ways that violate state law.

When the Governor can call the Guard

The law lets the Governor, or a designee, call the Virginia National Guard to state active duty in set cases. These include invasion or insurrection, when groups block the law, and to help state police with listed tasks. The Guard may be called for floods, hurricanes, fires, and other disasters, or for smaller emergencies that disrupt vital public services. The Guard can also support drug interdiction, counterdrug, and demand-reduction work, including under the interstate compact. For drug missions, the Governor states the type of support, the Guard may sign matching mutual-aid agreements, and the Adjutant General reports these activities to the Governor at least every three months. Training to prepare for these missions is also allowed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dan I. Helmer

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 359 • No: 276

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 64 • No: 36

House vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 62 • No: 35

Senate vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 3/12/2026

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 0 • No: 98

Senate vote 3/12/2026

Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 4

Senate vote 2/18/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 8 • No: 6

House vote 2/5/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 60 • No: 36

House vote 1/30/2026

Reported from Public Safety

Yes: 15 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1043)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (HB286ER2)

    4/22/2026House
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026House
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1043 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/22/2026Governor
  7. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  9. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  10. Governor's recommendation received by House

    4/13/2026Governor
  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB286)

    3/31/2026House
  12. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  13. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  14. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  15. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB286ER)

    3/30/2026House
  16. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  17. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB286)

    3/18/2026House
  19. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026Senate
  20. Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026House
  21. Conference Report released

    3/14/2026
  22. Conference Report released

    3/14/2026
  23. Conference Report released

    3/14/2026
  24. House Conferees: Helmer, Simon, Ballard

    3/12/2026House
  25. Conferees appointed by House

    3/12/2026House

Bill Text

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