# Virginia HB561: Driving while intoxicated; refusal of tests, repeat offenders, ignition interlocks. Virginia HB561, Driving while intoxicated; refusal of tests, repeat offenders, ignition interlocks., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Patrick A. Hope (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-14 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1112)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB561-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB561 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Driving while intoxicated; refusal of tests, repeat offenders, ignition interlocks. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-05-14, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1112) - Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 9 (306 yes, 14 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary Driving while intoxicated; refusal of tests; repeat offenders; ignition interlocks. Permits a court to issue a restricted license with immediate installation of ignition interlock systems for certain offenders charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal of tests, or repeat offender violations. The bill also directs the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program to convene a work group to evaluate the provisions governing driving or operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and submit recommendations and a draft report to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2026. Current law requires various time limits of driver's license suspension for such violations before a restricted license may be issued. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Drivers gain credit for earlier interlocks: benefit, medium. Anyone charged with a covered commercial impaired-driving offense can enter an alcohol safety program before trial, beyond first or second offenses. Participants may qualify early for an interlock, and installation time counts toward later court or DMV driving restrictions. People charged with cove… - Serious repeat offenders gain program access: benefit, medium. The law removes a program eligibility bar for people with a felony impaired-driving conviction. It also covers a third or later qualifying commercial impaired-driving conviction within 10 years of two other qualifying offenses. These drivers may enter an alcohol safety action program when good caus… - Workers can seek interlock vehicle exception: benefit, low. At an employer's request, a court may let an interlock-restricted driver use an employer-owned or employer-provided vehicle without an interlock. Driving must be solely for work, and the driver cannot own or control any part of the employer. The exception excludes school buses, school vehicles, and… - Underage test refusal brings driving penalties: cost, high. Drivers arrested for the under-21 alcohol-driving offense face penalties for unreasonably refusing a required breath test. A first refusal brings a one-year license suspension. A qualifying prior offense within 10 years makes the refusal a Class 1 misdemeanor and brings three years without driving… - Device tampering and driving help penalized: cost, medium. Tampering with or bypassing an ignition interlock or remote alcohol monitor is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Starting or trying to start a vehicle to help an interlock-restricted driver use it is also a Class 1 misdemeanor. Knowingly supplying that driver a vehicle without a working interlock carries the… - More convicted drivers must complete programs: cost, medium. People convicted of covered impaired-driving offenses, including commercial-driving offenses and similar local offenses, must complete a certified alcohol safety program. The requirement now extends beyond first and second offenses. After an assessment finds intervention inappropriate, the court ma… - Drivers face broader interlock requirements: mixed, high. Adults with a first covered impaired-driving conviction generally need 12 straight months of interlock-restricted driving without alcohol-related violations. On the driver's request, courts may allow six months with added driving limits. Restoring driving privileges after later covered offenses req… - Broader driving access with paid monitoring: mixed, medium. Drivers eligible under the law's interlock-license rules can receive a permit for any lawful purpose with a working, approved interlock. Drivers otherwise ineligible under those rules can ask the court for remote alcohol monitoring during the driving prohibition. They must avoid alcohol; the court… - Earlier driving petitions with seven-day limit: mixed, medium. The law removes restricted-license bars of four months after a second offense within 10 years and one year within five years. It also removes the bar throughout revocation after a third or later offense; other license requirements still apply. First-refusal offenders with the specified suspensions… - Specialty court graduates gain driving path: mixed, medium. People whose last conviction followed successful completion of a qualifying specialty court program can seek an employment-related restricted license. They do not face the three-year wait, regardless of their conviction date. Covered programs include veterans treatment courts, behavioral health doc… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-11 | House | Senate amendments agreed to by House | pass | 90 | 7 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments | pass | 35 | 5 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 12 | 2 | | | 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 10 | 0 | | ## Actions (39) - 2026-05-14: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1112) (Governor) - 2026-05-14: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1112 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-23: Passed by for the day (House) - 2026-04-23: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-04-23: Communicated to Governor (House) - 2026-04-22: Passed by for the day (House) - 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB561) (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 (HB561ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Senate amendments agreed to by House (90-Y 7-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-10: Passed Senate with amendments (35-Y 5-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB561) (House) - 2026-03-05: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (12-Y 2-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-02-16: committee amendments agreed to (House) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-13: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-11: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-04: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-03: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House) - 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB561) (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105186D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-05-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225692.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225691.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219359.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212396.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212395.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1204080.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199533.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197268.HTML) - Engrossed, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1144760.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1144759.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142303.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127605.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127632.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084951.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084950.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/1225692.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225691.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219359.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212396.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212395.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1204080.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199533.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197268.HTML) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1144760.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1144759.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142303.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127605.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127632.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084951.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084950.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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB561-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).