VirginiaSB3372026 Regular SessionSenate

Virginia National Guard; reports to General Assembly, state militias, etc.

Sponsored By: Russet Perry (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Virginia National Guard; reports to the General Assembly; state militias; work group; report. Requires the Adjutant General to submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing federal and state deployments of the Virginia National Guard and other matters relating to retention, readiness, funding, and resources. The bill prohibits the Governor from calling forth the Virginia National Guard for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, or coercing, or attempting to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, a person in giving his vote or ballot or to deter or prevent such person from voting. The bill additionally prohibits armed militia from another state, territory, or district from entering the Commonwealth for the purpose of active military duty over the objection of the Governor without meeting certain conditions. The bill allows certain members of the General Assembly to request that the Attorney General assess the legality of the deployment of the (i) National Guard of another state within the Commonwealth or (ii) Virginia National Guard. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs to convene a work group to assess the most appropriate manner and process by which the Governor and members of the General Assembly should respond to deployments of the Virginia National Guard. This bill is identical to HB 286.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Blocks Guard voter intimidation and work group

The Governor cannot call the National Guard to intimidate, threaten, or coerce voters. The Guard also cannot be used to deter or prevent people from voting. The Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs must convene a work group on Guard deployments and voter safeguards. The group will review disputed deployments, other states' Guard on duty in Virginia, and ways to prevent voter intimidation. The group must report to the Governor and key legislators by November 1, 2026.

Governor can activate Guard for emergencies

The Governor can call the Virginia National Guard or militia into state active duty. This applies for invasion, insurrection, or imminent threats. It also applies when people block the execution of laws or to help law enforcement. The Guard can respond to floods, hurricanes, fires, and other disasters that threaten life, property, or the environment. It can also help in smaller emergencies that disrupt vital public services. The Guard can support drug interdiction and demand-reduction work, with activities reported to the Governor and reviewed at least quarterly. The Governor and the Adjutant General can order training to prepare for these duties.

Guard can receive federal seized assets

The law lets the Virginia National Guard receive property and money from certain federal seizures. This only covers the federal forfeiture and customs laws named in the statute. It does not make the Guard a general police agency for other purposes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Russet Perry

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 349 • No: 209

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 64 • No: 34

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 62 • No: 35

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Senate acceded to request

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/18/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 39

House vote 2/16/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 62 • No: 34

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Public Safety with substitute

Yes: 13 • No: 7

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/21/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology

Yes: 9 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  2. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1003)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (SB337ER2)

    4/22/2026Senate
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026Senate
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1003 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/22/2026Governor
  7. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  9. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  10. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

    4/13/2026Governor
  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB337)

    3/31/2026Senate
  12. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  13. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  14. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  15. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB337ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  16. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  17. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB337)

    3/18/2026Senate
  19. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026Senate
  20. Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026House
  21. Conference Report released

    3/14/2026
  22. House Conferees: Helmer, Simon, Ballard

    2/24/2026House
  23. Conferees appointed by House

    2/24/2026House
  24. Senate acceded to request (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  25. Senate Conferees: Perry, McPike, Reeves

    2/23/2026Senate

Bill Text

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