# Virginia HB296: State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.

Virginia HB296, State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Holly M. Seibold (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB296-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB296
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-09
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380)
- Sponsor: Holly M. Seibold (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (288 yes, 30 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## 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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Standard visitor dress code and protections: benefit, low. 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 th…
- Stronger oversight of denied visits: benefit, low. 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…
- Work group to improve visitation: benefit, low. 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. Th…
- Prison visit screening and visitor rights: mixed, low. 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 visi…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Holly M. Seibold (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Senate amendments agreed to by House | pass | 71 | 27 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Senate Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 95 | 3 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 0 |   |

## Actions (31)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 380 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB296ER) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-05: Senate amendments agreed to by House (71-Y 27-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate Amendments agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-04: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104772D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217743.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217742.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201054.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201053.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195818.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195830.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185511.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186723.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083445.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083444.PDF)

## Related bills

- 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)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217743.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217742.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201054.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201053.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195818.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195830.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185511.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186723.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083445.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083444.PDF)

## Related
- [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)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB296-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).