# Virginia HB34: Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer; feasibility of establishing position.

Virginia HB34, Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer; feasibility of establishing position., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua G. Cole (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0550)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB34-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB34
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer; feasibility of establishing position.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-23
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0550)
- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (237 yes, 95 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Department of Military Affairs; feasibility of Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer; report. Directs the Department of Military Affairs to assess the feasibility of and develop recommendations related to establishing a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer position within the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program to perform victim advocacy services. The bill requires the Adjutant General to report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice no later than November 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 67 | 31 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 26 | 14 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 64 | 33 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 7 | 0 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0550) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 550 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB34ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate substitute agreed to by House (67-Y 31-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Committee substitute printed 26109173D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-04: committee amendment agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-07: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34) (House)
- 2025-12-23: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2025-12-23: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101188D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218707.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218706.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210572.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210571.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196277.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196276.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105133.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105132.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104297.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101114.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100738.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100680.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100679.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-12-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082056.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082055.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/1218707.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218706.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210572.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210571.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196277.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196276.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105133.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105132.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104297.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101114.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100738.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100680.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100679.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082056.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082055.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB34-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).