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SB276Introduced in the Senate

State correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report.

Passed

Introduced by Angelia Williams Graves, District 21

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

State correctional facilities; visitation policies; work group. Sets additional visitation standards for visitors to state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Department of Corrections (the Department) to provide extended or additional visitation access for long-distance visitors. The bill provides that each in-person visit shall last a minimum of two hours unless shortened at the request of either the visitor or the incarcerated individual, or in response to an active security event. The bill also provides that visitation privileges may be suspended only for conduct occurring during visitation that presents a direct and substantial threat to the physical safety of participants or the security of the correctional facility. The bill provides a timeline and process for appealing any suspension of visitation rights. Finally, the bill directs the Department to convene a work group to consider and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations regarding visitation. The work group is required to report its findings and specific legislative and policy recommendations to the General Assembly by October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 173.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0572)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

9 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · March 14, 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 Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104960D

  2. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

  3. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)

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

  6. Committee substitute printed 26107155D-S1

  7. Rules suspended

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

  9. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  10. Read second time

  11. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  12. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  13. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)

  14. Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. Placed on Calendar

  16. Read first time

  17. Referred to Committee on Rules

  18. Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

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

  20. Reconsidered by Rules (Voice Vote)

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

  22. Reported from Rules with substitute (13-Y 5-N)

  23. Committee substitute printed 26108953D-H1

  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)

  25. Read second time

  26. Read third time

  27. committee substitute agreed to

  28. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  29. Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

  30. House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  31. Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  32. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  33. House insisted on substitute

  34. House requested conference committee

  35. Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  36. Conferees appointed by Senate

  37. Senate Conferees: Williams Graves, Carroll Foy, DeSteph

  38. Conferees appointed by House

  39. House Conferees: Anthony, Gardner, McLaughlin

  40. Senate acceded to request

  41. Conference Report released

  42. Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 32-N 0-A)

  43. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  44. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)

  45. Enrolled

  46. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB276ER)

  47. Signed by President

  48. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  51. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB276)

  52. Approved by Governor-Chapter 572 (effective 7/1/2026)

  53. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0572)

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