HB 1304 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Individuals receiving services in a hospital, training center, etc.; right to send and receive mail.

Summary

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; individuals receiving services; right to send and receive mail. Allows state facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to process sealed letter mail for electronic delivery. This bill is identical to SB 580.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 289 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive text of the legislation regarding the rights of individuals receiving services at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services remains unchanged from the enrolled version, with the only modifications being the addition of official chapter headers, dates, and page numbering required for publication.

TECHNICAL

Added official chapter title, approval date (April 6, 2026), and page numbering to the document to finalize its status as law.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 39

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic20

18 Yea 2

90% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 289 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1304ER)

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Assigned sub: Behavioral Health

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

House committee offered

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Presented and ordered printed 26101843D

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors