HB 230 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Motor vehicles; use of safety belt systems, certain emergency medical services personnel exempted.

Summary

Motor vehicles; use of safety belt systems; certain persons exempt. Exempts from the requirements for the use of safety belt systems emergency medical services personnel while in the patient compartment of an emergency medical services vehicle providing necessary care, as defined in the bill, to a patient. The bill provides that, for seats that are subject to such requirements for the use of safety belt systems, such personnel shall use safety belt systems while the vehicle is in motion and such personnel is not providing necessary care to a patient. The bill also changes the existing exemption for law-enforcement agency personnel driving motor vehicles to enforce laws governing motor vehicle parking to an exemption for law-enforcement officers driving motor vehicles to enforce laws governing motor vehicle parking. This bill incorporates HB 233.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Transportation Substitute → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was formally approved and enacted into law as Chapter 93 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive text of the safety belt statute remains identical to the previous version, with no changes to the penalty amount, exemptions, or enforcement rules. The primary difference is the transition from a draft substitute bill to an official enacted chapter.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to mandate seatbelt use for drivers and passengers aged 18 and older in vehicles equipped with safety belts, with the same exemptions for medical conditions, law enforcement, and specific job roles.

TECHNICAL

The document format changed from a 'House Substitute' draft to an officially 'Chaptered' act, indicating the bill has passed all legislative stages and is now law.

Added official chapter metadata, including the chapter number (Chapter 93), approval date (April 6, 2026), and page numbering, which are required for the final published code.

Removed draft-specific headers such as the bill number, committee proposal date, and patron names, as these are no longer relevant once the bill is enacted.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Feb 24, 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

Key actions

Committee

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 93 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB230ER)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Transportation (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors