# Virginia SB396: Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21. Virginia SB396, Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0755)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB396-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB396 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0755) - Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 11 (277 yes, 66 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 1 ## Summary Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Virginia expands rules for new driver applicants: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia expands who must meet its initial driver’s license rules. These rules apply if you have never held a license from Virginia, another state, a U.S. territory, or another country. They also apply if you have never held the license class or endorsement needed for you… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 25 | 14 | | | 2026-03-03 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 91 | 7 | | | 2026-02-26 | House | Reported from Transportation with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2026-02-24 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 10 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 22 | 18 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and defeated by Senate | fail | 19 | 21 | | | 2026-02-03 | Senate | Transportation Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Transportation with amendment | pass | 9 | 6 | | ## Actions (37) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0755) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 755 (Effective 1/1/2027) (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 (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396) (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB396ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-05: House substitute agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-03-03: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-03: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-03: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House) - 2026-03-02: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Committee substitute printed 26108548D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-26: Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-24: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-20: Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles (House) - 2026-02-09: Referred to Committee on Transportation (House) - 2026-02-09: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-09: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Transportation Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-02: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-02: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Reported from Transportation with amendment (9-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Transportation (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104758D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222555.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222554.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201141.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201140.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182052.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182051.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178034.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178033.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108662.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108661.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104802.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089905.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089904.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/1222555.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222554.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201141.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201140.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182052.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182051.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178034.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178033.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108662.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108661.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104802.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089905.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089904.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-SB396-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).