VirginiaHB592026 Regular SessionHouse

Reapportionment; reallocation of populations, population data, civil commitment facilities.

Sponsored By: R. Lee Ware (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Reapportionment; reallocation of populations; civil commitment facilities. Requires persons civilly committed to a residential behavioral health facility administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to be counted and reallocated for redistricting and reapportionment purposes. This bill is identical to SB 88.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Census data for people in custody

By July 1 in any census year, state prisons and local and regional jails must send DLS records for each person held on April 1, in a format set by DLS. DBHDS must send the same type of records for each person civilly committed on April 1. Each record must use a unique ID (not a name, and for prisons and jails not an offender number) and include the person’s street address at incarceration or commitment or legal residence if known, race and ethnicity as the person reports, whether they are 18 or older, and the facility street address. DLS must also request the same records from federal prisons in Virginia by July 1. If DLS does not receive a federal record for someone, that person’s prior address is treated as unknown.

Where people in custody are counted

For redistricting, the law counts people in federal, state, or local custody, and those civilly committed, at their last Virginia street address. If that address is outside Virginia or unknown, they are counted at the facility’s street address. DLS must use these rules to make adjusted population counts, including race and ethnicity, for drawing congressional, state, and local districts. These adjusted counts cannot be used to distribute state or federal aid. DLS must publish the adjusted counts within 30 days after it receives census redistricting data and must not reveal any person’s specific address.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • R. Lee Ware

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 318 • No: 0

House vote 3/3/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/3/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 1/30/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/28/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0551)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 551 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  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. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB59)

    3/10/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB59ER)

    3/10/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/10/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/10/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/10/2026House
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  12. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

    2/27/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    2/27/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    2/27/2026Senate
  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB59)

    2/26/2026House
  16. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/26/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    2/26/2026Senate
  19. Committee substitute printed 26108517D-S1

    2/24/2026Senate
  20. Senate committee offered

    2/24/2026Senate
  21. Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

    2/24/2026Senate
  22. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    2/4/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/4/2026Senate
  24. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/3/2026House
  25. Read second time and engrossed

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

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