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HB1492Introduced in the House of Delegates

Impersonating a law-enforcement officer; clarifies definition of "facial covering," penalties.

Passed

Introduced by Irene Shin, District 8

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Impersonating law-enforcement officer; penalties. Creates a Class 5 felony for impersonating a law-enforcement officer while wearing a facial covering, as that term is defined in the bill, and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent violation.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0867)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · March 14, 2026

22

Yes

17

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Presented and ordered printed 26105681D

  2. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 3:11 pm)

  3. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1492)

  5. Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3

  6. House subcommittee offered

  7. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)

  8. Reported from Public Safety with substitute (16-Y 6-N)

  9. Committee substitute printed 26107156D-H1

  10. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 11:11 am)

  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1492)

  12. Read first time

  13. Read second time

  14. committee substitute agreed to

  15. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  16. Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  19. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  20. Committee substitute printed 26108679D-S1

  21. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:44 pm)

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1492)

  23. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

  24. Committee substitute printed 26109161D-S2

  25. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/5/2026 8:58 am)

  26. Rules suspended

  27. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  29. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1492)

  30. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  31. Passed by for the day

  32. Read third time

  33. Courts of Justice Substitute rejected

  34. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  35. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  36. Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N 0-A)

  37. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N 0-A)

  38. Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  39. Senate requested conference committee

  40. House acceded to request

  41. Conferees appointed by House

  42. House Conferees: Shin, Clark, Wilt

  43. Conferees appointed by Senate

  44. Senate Conferees: Perry, Srinivasan, Stuart

  45. Conferees appointed by House

  46. House Conferees: Shin, Lopez, Wilt

  47. Conference Report released

  48. Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 32-N 0-A)

  49. Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)

  50. Enrolled

  51. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1492ER)

  52. Signed by President

  53. Signed by Speaker

  54. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  55. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  56. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1492)

  57. Approved by Governor-Chapter 867 (effective 7/1/2026)

  58. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0867)

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