HB 1476 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies; disclosure of certain law-enforcement records.

Summary
Law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies; closed meetings; disclosure of certain law-enforcement records. Provides an exemption to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to allow closed meetings for discussion or consideration by any law-enforcement civilian oversight body established pursuant to general law or established by a local governing body before July 1, 2020, and operating in a manner consistent with such law of the criminal investigative files, audit findings, and deliberations regarding police operations related to a specific complaint before the body involving any violation or attempted violation of certain offenses. The bill allows inspection of certain law-enforcement records concerning juveniles by such civilian oversight bodies when required to perform their duties and by any independent policing auditor, manager, director, or other person appointed by the local governing body to support such civilian oversight body. Finally, the bill allows disclosure of certain information regarding crimes involving sexual assault, sexual abuse, or family abuse to such civilian oversight body and independent policing auditor, manager, director, or other person appointed by the local governing body.
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 23, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Substitute Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 13, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an enrolled act, updating the header to reflect its official status. The most significant substantive change expands the scope of law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies, allowing them to access confidential records and participate in closed meetings for cases involving specific violent offenses (such as felonies enumerated in Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2) and cases involving juveniles where records would otherwise be sealed. This change also extends these access rights to oversight bodies established by local governments before July 1, 2020, provided they operate consistently with state law.
Scope change
The scope of access to confidential law-enforcement records was expanded to include specific categories of violent crimes and juvenile cases for civilian oversight bodies, and the eligibility for this access was extended to include locally established oversight bodies that predate a specific date.
ELIGIBILITY

Law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies are now explicitly authorized to access confidential records and participate in closed meetings when investigating specific violent felonies (e.g., sexual assault, robbery, murder) and cases involving juveniles with sealed records.

The definition of eligible oversight bodies was broadened to include those established by local governing bodies before July 1, 2020, as long as they operate in a manner consistent with state law.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date for the expanded oversight body provisions is set for July 1, 2020, serving as the cutoff for which local bodies are eligible for the new access rights.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated from 'HOUSE SUBSTITUTE' to 'ENROLLED', and minor formatting adjustments were made to section citations and spacing throughout the text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Mar 6, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
15
Committee
7
Amendments
3
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 861 (effective 7/1/2026)
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 (HB1476ER)
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments agreed to by House (60-Y 38-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
General Laws and Technology Amendments 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 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendments (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (59-Y 39-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26104965D
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.