HB 1392 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Correctional facilities, local and regional, and courthouse security; powers & duties for operation.

Summary
Powers and duties for operation of local and regional correctional facilities and courthouse security; attorney access to courthouses and communication and visitation with incarcerated clients; penalty. Provides that if a sheriff allows courthouse employees or law-enforcement officers to bypass any security screening required to enter a courthouse, such sheriff shall also exempt from the security screening any attorney who displays a valid Virginia State Bar-issued bar card and a government-issued identification. The bill creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any attorney who has had his license to practice law in the Commonwealth suspended or revoked and who displays a Virginia State Bar-issued bar card in an effort to be exempt from the security screening. The bill also requires any telephonic, electronic, or web-based communication system for prisoners that is offered by a sheriff or jail superintendent who operates a local or regional correctional facility to include a confidential means for a prisoner to communicate with his attorney at regular and reasonable times.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Vetoed Apr 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 10, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand the powers of the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to set standards for attorney visitation, inmate telehealth, and health care reporting. Additionally, the requirement for attorneys to display a bar card for courthouse security exemptions was clarified, and the mandate for attorney communication systems was made stricter with specific language added.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from adding new sections to also amending and reenacting § 53.1-5, thereby adding new duties for the State Board of Local and Regional Jails regarding attorney visitation and inmate health care.
REQUIREMENT

Added new duties for the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to establish minimum standards for attorney visitation (including weekends and after 5:00 p.m.) and to implement policies for inmate telehealth appointments.

Added a requirement for the Board to submit quarterly continuous quality improvement reports on health care services to the public.

Modified § 53.1-120.1 to clarify that sheriffs exempting employees from security screenings must also exempt attorneys displaying a valid bar card and government ID.

Modified § 53.1-127.2:1 to change the title and add specific language mandating that communication systems be provided 'specifically for the purpose of communication between prisoners and attorneys' before the existing conditional language.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Mar 5, 2026
D Democratic20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
40
Key actions
17
Committee
10
Amendments
4
Apr 11, 2026
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by House
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1392ER)
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate Substitute with amendments agreed to by House (84-Y 13-N 1-A)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute with amendments (34-Y 6-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (13-Y 2-N)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 3-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Rereferred from Rehabilitation and Social Services to Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (83-Y 14-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendments agreed to
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (17-Y 5-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26105053D
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors