# Virginia HB690: Search warrant; search of place of abode, copy of affidavit to be part of warrant.

Virginia HB690, Search warrant; search of place of abode, copy of affidavit to be part of warrant., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Eric R. Zehr (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0203)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB690-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB690
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Search warrant; search of place of abode, copy of affidavit to be part of warrant.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0203)
- Sponsor: Eric R. Zehr (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (317 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Search warrant; search of place of abode; copy of affidavit to be part of warrant and served therewith; temporary sealing. Provides that if an affidavit that accompanies a search warrant for a place of abode has been sealed pursuant to relevant law, the executing law-enforcement officer does not have to give or leave a copy of such affidavit in a conspicuous place within or affixed to the place to be searched. The bill also adds that the circumstances requiring the issuance of a warrant after 5:00 p.m. shall be documented in the required affidavit that is submitted to a magistrate when seeking such authorization. This bill incorporates HB 1028.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger protections during home searches: benefit, high. Police cannot use no‑knock warrants. For home searches, officers must be clearly identifiable and announce their purpose. Initial entry into a home is only between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., unless a judge allows other times for good cause. If no judge is available, a magistrate may allow it, and off…
- Who can execute a warrant: benefit, low. Warrants may be directed to local police or sheriffs, state officers with police powers, and named federal agents. The officer who receives the warrant must execute it. If both state and federal officers are named, either can execute it or they can act together.
- Rules for electronic and financial records: mixed, medium. A warrant for a customer’s electronic records can be served on providers that do business in Virginia by hand, mail, delivery service, fax, or electronically, in or out of state. Providers must give the contents of communications when served with a valid state warrant. The officer must note when ma…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

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

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Senate amendments agreed to by House | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Committee amendments agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 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 substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0203) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 203 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB690) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB690ER) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Senate amendments agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Committee amendments agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-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 - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB690) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Committee substitute printed 26107312D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-11: Incorporates HB1028 (Walker) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103529D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216814.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216813.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199401.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199400.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189038.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186698.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142308.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142307.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128463.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128462.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085528.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085527.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/1216814.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216813.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199401.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199400.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189038.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186698.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142308.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142307.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128463.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128462.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085528.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085527.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-HB690-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).