# Virginia HB860: Local & Reg. Jails, St. Bd.; standards, etc., regarding lactation policies for incarcerated persons.

Virginia HB860, Local & Reg. Jails, St. Bd.; standards, etc., regarding lactation policies for incarcerated persons., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0434)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB860-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB860
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Local & Reg. Jails, St. Bd.; standards, etc., regarding lactation policies for incarcerated persons.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0434)
- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (312 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

State Board of Local and Regional Jails; standards and regulations for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated persons in local and regional correctional facilities; report. Directs the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to set minimum standards and regulations regarding lactation policies for incarcerated persons and their infants by December 1, 2028. In developing such regulations and standards, the Board is directed to consider best practices related to lactation and how to incorporate such practices into the regulations and standards set by the Board.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Lactation support standards in local jails: benefit, medium. The law requires the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to set minimum lactation standards for local and regional jails by December 1, 2028. When setting the rules, the Board must consider following medical advice during and after birth unless safety requires otherwise, offering lactation supp…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote 40-Y 0-N 0-A) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Rules Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Reported from Rules with substitute | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Reported from Rules | pass | 18 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (32)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0434) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 434 (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: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB860ER) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB860) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-05: Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote 40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB860) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108787D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Reported from Rules with substitute (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Referred to Committee on Rules (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-01-29: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB860) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Reported from Rules (18-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Rules (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103320D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217831.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217830.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201437.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201436.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187352.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185655.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187351.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185654.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086209.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086208.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/1217831.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217830.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201437.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201436.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187352.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185655.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187351.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1185654.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086209.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086208.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-HB860-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).