# Virginia HB857: Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program.

Virginia HB857, Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (38-Y 0-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB857-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB857
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (335 yes, 16 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Home/electronic incarceration program. Provides that any court having jurisdiction for the trial of a pregnant person or a postpartum person who still has contact with their infant child and is charged with certain offenses shall assign the offender to a home/electronic incarceration program unless there is probable cause to believe that (i) the offender will not appear for trial or hearing or at such other time and place as may be directed or (ii) the offender's liberty will constitute an unreasonable danger to such person, such person's family or household members, or the public. The bill also provides that a pregnant or postpartum person assigned to home/electronic incarceration shall remain eligible for bond.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Home detention for pregnant and postpartum people: benefit, low. Virginia courts must assign eligible pregnant and postpartum people to available home or electronic detention programs. Postpartum people must still have contact with their infant. After conviction and sentencing to state or local confinement, the person must be suitable for the program. Before tri…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 89 | 11 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services | pass | 11 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 93 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 0 |   |

## Actions (39)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (89-Y 11-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1073) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB857ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1073 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB857) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB857ER) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-26: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-24: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (11-Y 0-N 4-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB857) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (93-Y 5-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-04: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-02: Committee substitute printed 26106580D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Assigned Public Safety sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105120D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225309.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225308.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219946.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219945.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219063.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179724.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179723.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105896.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105895.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100742.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101084.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100741.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101083.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086206.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086205.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/1225309.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225308.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219946.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219945.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219063.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179724.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179723.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105896.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105895.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100742.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101084.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100741.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101083.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086206.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086205.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-HB857-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).