# Virginia HB553: Corrections, Department of; language services for offenders. Virginia HB553, Corrections, Department of; language services for offenders., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jessica L. Anderson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-11-06). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB553-2026 - As of: 2026-11-06 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB553 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Corrections, Department of; language services for offenders. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) - Sponsor: Jessica L. Anderson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 9 (251 yes, 104 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 1 ## Summary Department of Corrections; language services for offenders. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall take reasonable steps to provide offenders with limited English proficiency meaningful access to Department facilities, services, programs, and activities to ensure that language does not prevent Department employees from communicating effectively with such offenders. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Free language help in Virginia corrections: benefit, low. Virginia requires free language help for people with limited English in prison, on probation, or on parole. Language needs qualify through the person's own report, staff observations, prior court interpreter use, or an adult-education test. People can request interpreters verbally or through an Int… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jessica L. Anderson (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 68 | 31 | | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 22 | 17 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 23 | 16 | | | 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-02-20 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services | pass | 11 | 4 | | | 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 68 | 30 | | | 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) | pass | 16 | 5 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 6 | 1 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (68-Y 31-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1059) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB553ER2) (House) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House) - 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1059 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor) - 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House) - 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB553) (House) - 2026-02-26: Enrolled (House) - 2026-02-26: Enrolled (House) - 2026-02-26: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-24: Passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (11-Y 4-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB553) (House) - 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 (68-Y 30-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-02-04: committee amendments 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) (16-Y 5-N) (House) - 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB553) (House) - 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 1-N) (House) - 2026-01-20: Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101313D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225261.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225260.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220032.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220031.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219048.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179582.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179581.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105480.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105479.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104308.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100868.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100983.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084912.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084911.PDF) ## Related bills - HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. (signed) - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB329: Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant/Manufactured Home Lot Rental Acts; retaliatory conduct prohibited. (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) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225261.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225260.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220032.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220031.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219048.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179582.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179581.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105480.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105479.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104308.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100868.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100983.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084912.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084911.PDF) ## Related - [HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB20-2026) - [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) - [HB329: Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant/Manufactured Home Lot Rental Acts; retaliator…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB329-2026) - [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) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB553-2026 (as of 2026-11-06).