VirginiaHB6022026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Motion picture theaters; definitions, establishes requirements for open captioning.

Sponsored By: Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31 (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Open captioning at motion picture theaters. Establishes requirements for open captioning for motion picture theaters. The bill requires all motion picture theater companies, excluding outdoor theaters such as drive-in theaters, that own, operate, control, or lease five or more locations in the Commonwealth and are open to the general public to provide open captioning on any film that has at least seven showings per operating week for a period greater than one operating week, provided that open captioning is available to the theater for such film as part of the digital cinema package. The bill specifies that (i) within the first two operating weeks following a film's release, a theater shall provide at least four open captioning viewings; (ii) at least one of such open captioning viewings shall start between (a) 5:59 p.m. and 11:01 p.m. on a Friday, (b) 10:59 a.m. and 11:01 p.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, or (c) 5:59 p.m. and 10:01 p.m. on a Monday through Thursday; and (iii) beginning in the third operating week following a film's release, a theater shall provide at least one open captioning viewing within 72 hours after receiving a request for such a viewing provided that no theater shall be obligated to provide open captioning viewing for any particular screening for which advance tickets have been sold prior to its receipt of such request. Under the bill, motion picture theater companies are required to provide contact information on their websites for receiving and fulfilling requests for open captioning screenings and advertise the date and time of open captioning screenings in the same manner used to advertise all other motion picture screenings and indicate which screenings shall include open captioning by utilizing the character symbol "OC" or such other language or symbols as may reasonably identify which screenings will include open captioning. The bill directs the Office of Civil Rights of the Attorney General of Virginia to establish a process for receiving consumer reports of suspected violations of the bill. As introduced, the bill was a recommendation of the Disability Commission. This bill is identical to SB 722.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Open-caption showings required at theaters

Most indoor theaters must offer open‑caption (on‑screen) showings when a film has captions in its digital package and runs at least seven times a week for more than one week. Large chains (five or more locations) must give at least four open‑captioned showings in the first two operating weeks. At least one must start in these windows: Friday 5:59 p.m.–11:01 p.m.; Saturday or Sunday 10:59 a.m.–11:01 p.m.; or Monday–Thursday 5:59 p.m.–10:01 p.m. From week three on, large chains must add an open‑captioned showing within 72 hours after a request. Small chains (four or fewer locations) must provide one open‑captioned showing within eight calendar days after a request. No theater has to add open captions for any screening that already sold advance tickets before the request. If two open‑captioned showings of the same movie overlap at the same theater, only one counts toward the minimum, unless avoiding overlap is not practicable. Drive‑in theaters are excluded.

Closed-caption devices at every screening

The law requires theaters to provide working closed‑caption devices for every showing when a movie has closed captions available. You can use a caption device to read dialogue and sounds. The theater must keep this equipment in good condition.

How to find and request open captions

Theaters must post contact information on their websites to take open‑caption requests. They must list open‑caption showtimes like other showings and label them with “OC” or another clear mark. The Office of Civil Rights takes reports of violations and can ask theaters for showtime details. If the Office finds a violation, the theater must add one extra open‑captioned showing in the next operating week. Theaters must keep records proving compliance for at least one year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 180 • No: 39

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 23 • No: 17

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 2/25/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 9 • No: 4

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 79 • No: 17

House vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

Yes: 19 • No: 1 • Other: 1

House vote 2/10/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Referred from General Laws and referred to Health and Human Services (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0184)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 184 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB602)

    3/6/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB602ER)

    3/6/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/6/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/6/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/6/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  11. Passed by for the day

    2/27/2026Senate
  12. Read third time

    2/27/2026Senate
  13. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB602)

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

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

    2/26/2026Senate
  16. Rules suspended

    2/26/2026Senate
  17. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  18. Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

    2/18/2026Senate
  19. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  20. Read third time and passed House (79-Y 17-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  21. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House
  22. committee substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026House
  23. Read second time

    2/16/2026House
  24. Read first time

    2/15/2026House
  25. Committee substitute printed 26106291D-H1

    2/12/2026House

Bill Text

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