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HB296Introduced in the House of Delegates

State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.

Passed

Introduced by Holly Seibold, District 12

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

State correctional facilities; visitation policies; report. Requires the Department of Corrections to establish and publicly post on its website and in the lobby of each state correctional facility an objective dress code for individuals visiting a state correctional facility and specifies certain requirements for and limitations on what such dress code may include. The bill prohibits any state correctional facility from enforcing a dress code that is more restrictive than the dress code posted by the Department.The bill also prohibits any individual from being denied in-person visitation unless such individual is in clear violation of visitation rules or policies. Prior to denying entry to a visitor, the bill requires the reasoning to be (i) reviewed in person by the facility administrative duty officer and (ii) approved by a regional administrator or superior. The bill requires the Department to submit a report annually on or before November 1 to the General Assembly and the Governor with information on visitors denied entry to state correctional facilities, including the following information disaggregated by facility and by month: (a) the number of visitors denied entry and (b) the reasoning for such denials, including the specific rules or policies such visitors were alleged to have violated.The bill requires the Department to convene a work group consisting of relevant stakeholders to consider goals and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations related to facilitating visitation within state correctional facilities and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380)

April 8, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate amendments agreed to by House (71-Y 27-N 0-A) · March 5, 2026

71

Yes

27

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates 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 delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104772D

  2. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  3. Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296)

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

  6. Reported from Public Safety (21-Y 0-N)

  7. Read first time

  8. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  9. Read second time and engrossed

  10. Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A)

  11. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  12. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

  13. Senate committee offered

  14. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (15-Y 0-N)

  15. Rules suspended

  16. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  18. Read third time

  19. Senate Amendments agreed to

  20. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  21. Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. Senate amendments agreed to by House (71-Y 27-N 0-A)

  23. Enrolled

  24. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB296ER)

  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB296)

  26. Signed by Speaker

  27. Signed by President

  28. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

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

  30. Approved by Governor-Chapter 380 (effective 7/1/2026)

  31. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0380)

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