# Virginia SB778: Display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty.

Virginia SB778, Display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mark D. Obenshain (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0348)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB778-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB778
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0348)
- Sponsor: Mark D. Obenshain (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (294 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty. Makes it a Class 6 felony for any person 18 years of age or older to display obscene material, as defined in relevant law, to a minor younger than 13 years of age with lascivious intent. Current law only prohibits the display of child pornography or a grooming video or materials to a child younger than 13 years of age by a person 18 years of age or older.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Broader felony rules for grooming young children: mixed, low. In Virginia, adults 18 or older commit a Class 6 felony by showing obscene material to children under 13 with sexual intent to encourage sexual conduct. Covered conduct includes sexual touching, masturbation, intercourse, oral or anal sex, and penetration with an object. Covered material includes c…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mark D. Obenshain (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0348) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 348 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB778) (Senate)
- 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)
- 2026-03-13: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB778ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-06: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-23: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB778) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 10:47 am) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107281D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 3:08 pm) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB778) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Presented and ordered printed 26105663D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217471.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217470.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207047.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207046.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132621.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132620.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094345.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094344.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/1217471.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217470.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207047.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207046.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132621.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132620.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094345.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094344.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB778-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).