# Virginia HB964: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. Virginia HB964, Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB964-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB964 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) - Sponsor: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 12 (312 yes, 157 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications. Provides that any person who loses his political rights as a result of a felony conviction shall be invested with those rights upon his release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote. The bill directs the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to transmit to the Department of Elections certain information for incarcerated persons with a pending date of release and requires the Department of Elections to process the information and make the necessary changes to the voter registration system to permit such persons to register to vote by the date of the person's scheduled date of release. On the date of an incarcerated person's release, the appropriate authority is required by the bill to provide a voter registration application, information on returning the form by mail or completing it by electronic means, and an official release document to serve as a safety net for voter registration. The bill also amends the language regarding adjudications of mental incompetency for purposes of being qualified to vote; a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until that capacity has been reestablished. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, contingent upon the approval of the constitutional amendments at the November 3, 2026, general election. This bill is identical to SB 162. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Guardianship alone does not end voting: benefit, medium. A general court finding of incapacity alone does not take away voting eligibility. The Department of Elections can remove registration on this basis only after a specific finding that the person cannot understand voting. Guardianship appointment orders must state whether the person is disqualified… - Felony convictions no longer bar jurors: benefit, low. A felony conviction alone no longer disqualifies a person from jury service. Disqualification for treason and other legal disqualifications remain. This change starts January 1, 2027, only upon majority voter approval of the specified constitutional amendments on November 3, 2026. - More court oversight for adult guardianships: benefit, low. Guardianship and conservatorship orders must schedule a first review within one year and later reviews at least every three years. Courts can change or waive reviews only with a supported explanation addressing required factors. Courts cannot waive the first review for petitions by hospitals, nursi… - Voter registration help when leaving incarceration: benefit, low. Corrections officials, sheriffs, and regional jail leaders must provide voter applications on release day, with mail, online, and in-person instructions. People released from felony incarceration must also receive papers identifying the felony and confirming release for voter registration. The Depa… - Private telehealth visits in state prisons: benefit, low. Virginia must develop and implement policies that help people in state prisons take part in telehealth appointments. Those policies must designate private spaces for the visits. This requirement starts January 1, 2027, only upon majority voter approval of the specified constitutional amendments on… - Voting rights return after felony release: mixed, high. People serving felony sentences cannot register or vote during 24-hour confinement in a state or local correctional facility. Political rights lost because of the conviction return upon release, without a separate rights-restoration process. Probation, parole, post-release supervision, and communit… - New voter questions and prosecution referrals: mixed, low. Voter applications ask about current felony incarceration instead of past felony convictions and rights restoration. They also ask whether a court found the applicant unable to understand voting and whether that capacity was restored. Registrars must refer false statements about serving a felony in… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 64 | 34 | | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 33 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 7 | | | 2026-02-12 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 63 | 34 | | | 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) | pass | 16 | 6 | | | 2026-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 6 | 2 | | ## Actions (45) - 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1081) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB964ER2) (House) - 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor - Chapter 1081 (effective - see bill) (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) - 2026-03-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964) (House) - 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) - 2026-03-13: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB964ER) (House) - 2026-03-13: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-13: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-06: Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964) (House) - 2026-02-24: Committee substitute printed 26108576D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964) (House) - 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-11: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-02-11: committee amendment agreed to (House) - 2026-02-11: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-10: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-06: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N) (House) - 2026-02-06: House committee offered (House) - 2026-02-06: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-02-06: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-03: Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights (House) - 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964) (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100136D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225357.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225356.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220372.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220371.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219006.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219005.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219002.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203455.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203454.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178104.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179148.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178103.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179147.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133553.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133552.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134129.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131964.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132688.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086696.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086695.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/1225357.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225356.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220372.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220371.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219006.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219005.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219002.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203455.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203454.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178104.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179148.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178103.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179147.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133553.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133552.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134129.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131964.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132688.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086696.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086695.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-HB964-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).