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SB162Introduced in the Senate

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration.

Passed

Introduced by Mamie Locke, District 23

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications. Provides that any person who loses his political rights as a result of a felony conviction shall be invested with those rights upon his release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote. The bill directs the Department of Corrections and the Compensation Board to transmit to the Department of Elections certain information for recently released incarcerated persons and requires the Department of Elections to process the information and make the necessary changes to the voter registration system to permit such persons to register to vote. On the date of an incarcerated person's release, the appropriate authority is required by the bill to provide a voter registration application, information on returning the form by mail or completing it by electronic means, and a document stating that he as been released from incarceration for a specified felony to serve as a safety net for voter registration. The bill also amends the language regarding adjudications of mental incompetency for purposes of being qualified to vote; a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until that capacity has been reestablished. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, contingent upon the approval of the constitutional amendments at the November 3, 2026, general election. This bill is identical to HB 964.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0992)

April 22, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

8 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

21

Yes

18

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.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100690D

  2. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB162)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)

  6. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  7. Rules suspended

  8. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

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

  10. Read second time

  11. Privileges and Elections Amendment agreed to

  12. Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  13. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  14. Placed on Calendar

  15. Read first time

  16. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  17. House committee offered

  18. Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

  19. Committee substitute printed 26107718D-H1

  20. Read second time

  21. Read third time

  22. committee substitute agreed to

  23. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  24. Passed House with substitute (65-Y 33-N 0-A)

  25. House substitute rejected by Senate (18-Y 20-N 0-A)

  26. Reconsideration of (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. House substitute agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

  28. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB162)

  29. Enrolled

  30. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB162ER)

  31. Signed by Speaker

  32. Signed by President

  33. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB162)

  34. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

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

  36. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  37. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  38. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A)

  39. Governor's recommendation adopted

  40. Reenrolled bill text (SB162ER2)

  41. Signed by Speaker

  42. Signed by President

  43. Approved by Governor-Chapter 992 (Effective - see bill)

  44. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0992)

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