VirginiaHJ42026 Regular SessionHouse

Constitutional amendment; apportionment, congress dists, limited authority of the GA to modify.

Sponsored By: Rodney T. Willett (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Constitutional amendment (second reference); apportionment; congressional districts; limited authority of the General Assembly to modify. Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia related to the establishment of congressional districts. The amendment provides explicit authority for the General Assembly to modify one or more congressional districts, outside of the standard decennial redistricting cycle, in the event that any other state conducts a redistricting of the state's congressional districts outside of the standard decennial redistricting cycle or for any purpose other than complying with a state or federal court order to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional district map. Additionally, an amendment to the Schedule of the Constitution of Virginia is proposed to specify the period of time to which such authorization is limited.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Clear fairness rules for district maps

The law requires all U.S. House, Virginia Senate, and House of Delegates districts to be contiguous and compact. Districts must have nearly equal population for fair representation. Maps must follow the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. Where practical, maps must give racial and ethnic communities a real chance to elect candidates of their choice. Virginia redraws these districts in 2021 and every 10 years after.

When new district maps take effect

New reapportionment laws take effect right away when enacted. The new maps are used for the November general election held just before the current term ends in the year the law must be passed. Current members finish their terms and keep representing the district that elected them, unless they move out of it. Any vacancy during that term is filled by voters from the same district.

Limited power to change congressional maps

From January 1, 2025 through October 31, 2030, the General Assembly may change one or more U.S. House districts. It can act only after another state changes its congressional map during the same period for reasons other than finishing census redistricting or following a court order. Virginia’s change must respond to that other state’s action and occur within the same 2025–2030 window. All other redistricting rules still apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rodney T. Willett

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 124 • No: 84

Senate vote 1/16/2026

Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/16/2026

Senator Head Amendments rejected

Yes: 18 • No: 21

Senate vote 1/16/2026

Agreed to by Senate (21-Y, 18-N, 0-A)

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 1/14/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 1/14/2026

Agreed to by House

Yes: 62 • No: 33 • Other: 1

Senate vote 1/14/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 8 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0976)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Assigned Chapter 976 (Effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026House
  3. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  4. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ4ER)

    3/30/2026House
  5. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  6. Floor offered

    1/16/2026Senate
  7. Agreed to by Senate (21-Y, 18-N, 0-A)

    1/16/2026Senate
  8. Senator Head Amendments rejected (18-Y 21-N 0-A)

    1/16/2026Senate
  9. Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

    1/16/2026Senate
  10. Read third time

    1/16/2026Senate
  11. Read second time

    1/15/2026Senate
  12. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    1/14/2026Senate
  13. Agreed to by House (62-Y 33-N 1-A)

    1/14/2026House
  14. Engrossed by House

    1/14/2026House
  15. Taken up

    1/14/2026House
  16. Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N)

    1/14/2026House
  17. Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N)

    1/14/2026Senate
  18. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    11/17/2025House
  19. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101729D

    11/17/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation