# Virginia HB689: Gift certificates; amends definition, international transactions, fraud reports.

Virginia HB689, Gift certificates; amends definition, international transactions, fraud reports., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Eric R. Zehr (Republican); status in committee, last action 2026-02-12 (Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB689-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB689
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Gift certificates; amends definition, international transactions, fraud reports.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-02-12, Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Eric R. Zehr (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Subcommittee #2
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Gift certificates; international transactions; fraud reports. Amends the definition of "gift certificate" and prohibits merchants from selling a gift certificate as part of an international transaction without first implementing a 24-hour hold on the activation of such gift certificate. The bill also requires local law enforcement to communicate reports of gift certificate fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Eric R. Zehr (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Continued to 2027 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (5)

- 2026-02-12: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Continued to 2027 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103504D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085489.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085488.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085489.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085488.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB689-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).