VirginiaSB552026 Regular SessionSenate

Sex offenses; prohibiting proximity to children on premises of state parks, penalty.

Sponsored By: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; state parks; penalty. Provides that every adult who is convicted of an offense prohibiting proximity to children, when the offense occurred on or after July 1, 2026, shall as a part of his sentence be forever prohibited from going, for the purpose of having any contact whatsoever with children who are not in his custody, within 100 feet of a playground, athletic field or facility, or gymnasium he knows or has reason to know is located on the premises of a state park. A violation is a Class 6 felony.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Same bans for out-of-state convictions

People with a similar conviction from another state or country face the same lifetime rules. You may not loiter within 100 feet of any primary, secondary, or high school or child day program you know or should know. You are also banned from going within 100 feet of local playgrounds, athletic fields, or gyms when your purpose is to have any contact with children not in your custody. Beginning July 1, 2026, this also covers playgrounds, athletic fields, or gyms on state park land.

Sex offenders: 100-foot bans near child areas

The law defines who is covered. It includes certain registry violations tied to those crimes, starting July 1, 2006. Adults convicted of the listed offenses are permanently banned from loitering within 100 feet of any primary, secondary, or high school for offenses on or after July 1, 2000. For offenses on or after July 1, 2006, they are also banned from loitering within 100 feet of any child day program they know or should know. For offenses on or after July 1, 2008, they may not go within 100 feet of a locality-owned playground, athletic field or facility, or gym if their purpose is to have any contact with children not in their custody. Beginning July 1, 2026, the same 100-foot rule applies to playgrounds, athletic fields or facilities, and gyms on state park land when their purpose is to have any contact with children not in their custody. Violating these rules is a Class 6 felony.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • J.D. "Danny" Diggs

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 257 • No: 0

House vote 3/9/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/20/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 9 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote 2/2/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/30/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/30/2026

Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/19/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0480)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 480 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB55)

    3/13/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB55ER)

    3/13/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/13/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  10. Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026House
  11. Read third time

    3/9/2026House
  12. Read second time

    3/6/2026House
  13. Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    3/4/2026House
  14. Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety

    3/3/2026House
  15. Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    3/2/2026House
  16. Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)

    2/20/2026House
  17. Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

    2/18/2026House
  18. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/5/2026House
  19. Read first time

    2/5/2026House
  20. Placed on Calendar

    2/5/2026House
  21. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/2/2026Senate
  22. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/30/2026Senate
  23. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

    1/30/2026Senate
  24. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    1/30/2026Senate
  25. Read second time

    1/30/2026Senate

Bill Text

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