VirginiaHB2962026 Regular SessionHouse

State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.

Sponsored By: Holly M. Seibold (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

State correctional facilities; visitation policies; report. Requires the Department of Corrections to establish and publicly post on its website and in the lobby of each state correctional facility an objective dress code for individuals visiting a state correctional facility and specifies certain requirements for and limitations on what such dress code may include. The bill prohibits any state correctional facility from enforcing a dress code that is more restrictive than the dress code posted by the Department.The bill also prohibits any individual from being denied in-person visitation unless such individual is in clear violation of visitation rules or policies. Prior to denying entry to a visitor, the bill requires the reasoning to be (i) reviewed in person by the facility administrative duty officer and (ii) approved by a regional administrator or superior. The bill requires the Department to submit a report annually on or before November 1 to the General Assembly and the Governor with information on visitors denied entry to state correctional facilities, including the following information disaggregated by facility and by month: (a) the number of visitors denied entry and (b) the reasoning for such denials, including the specific rules or policies such visitors were alleged to have violated.The bill requires the Department to convene a work group consisting of relevant stakeholders to consider goals and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations related to facilitating visitation within state correctional facilities and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Standard visitor dress code and protections

The Department sets a clear visitor dress code and posts it online and in each prison lobby. The code can only use objective rules, such as colors or materials, specific clothing limits, required coverage, and bans on certain jewelry, makeup, or shoes. It cannot ban religious attire that follows the code or ban underwire bras. No facility may enforce stricter rules than the posted code.

Stronger oversight of denied visits

Regular in-person visits cannot be denied unless the visitor clearly breaks visitation rules or policies. Before denying entry, the duty officer reviews the reason in person, and a regional administrator or higher must approve. If you are denied, you get a written reason on the spot, and the denial is reported to the Department. Each year by November 1, the Department reports to the Governor and lawmakers the number of denials by facility and month and the rules cited.

Work group to improve visitation

The Department convenes a group of visitors, advocates, experts, and corrections staff. The group develops training and policy ideas on anti-discrimination, professionalism, trauma-informed care, and respectful searches. It emphasizes the value of in-person visits for rehabilitation and reentry. The group reports findings and any legislative ideas by November 1, 2026.

Prison visit screening and visitor rights

At entry, staff must tell you what items are allowed and banned. If you bring a legal item that is not allowed inside, staff can hold it during your visit if storage is available and return it when you leave. If the facility has the equipment, you are scanned or wanded, and detector dogs check visitors when available. If no contraband is indicated and you are eligible, you get an in-person visit with personal contact. If a search shows possible contraband, you can agree to a personal search. If only a dog alerts and you refuse, you may still visit without physical contact; if a scan or wand alerts and you refuse, the Department may deny entry under its rules. You may leave and stop a search at any time before contraband is found, and staff cannot threaten to bar future visits for refusing or stopping a search. Facility leaders must make sure staff follow these rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Holly M. Seibold

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 288 • No: 30

House vote 3/5/2026

Senate amendments agreed to by House

Yes: 71 • No: 27

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Senate Amendments agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/5/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 95 • No: 3

House vote 1/30/2026

Reported from Public Safety

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 380 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  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. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB296ER)

    3/12/2026House
  6. Enrolled

    3/12/2026House
  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296)

    3/12/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/12/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  10. Senate amendments agreed to by House (71-Y 27-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  12. Senate Amendments agreed to

    3/3/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/3/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/3/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/2/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/2/2026Senate
  18. Senate committee offered

    2/27/2026Senate
  19. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (15-Y 0-N)

    2/27/2026Senate
  20. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

    2/6/2026Senate
  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/6/2026Senate
  22. Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A)

    2/5/2026House
  23. Read second time and engrossed

    2/4/2026House
  24. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/4/2026House
  25. Read first time

    2/3/2026House

Bill Text

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