HB 59 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Reapportionment; reallocation of populations, population data, civil commitment facilities.

Summary
Reapportionment; reallocation of populations; civil commitment facilities. Requires persons civilly committed to a residential behavioral health facility administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to be counted and reallocated for redistricting and reapportionment purposes. This bill is identical to SB 88.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Dec 30, 2025 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill has been officially enacted into law as Chapter 551 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The primary change is the addition of the specific approval date, April 13, 2026, which signifies the bill's transition from a proposed measure to an active state law.
Scope change
The bill's substantive scope regarding reapportionment and civil commitment facilities remains unchanged; only the procedural status and effective date have been updated.
TIMELINE

Added the specific approval date of April 13, 2026, to formally record when the bill became law.

TECHNICAL

Updated the session header to reflect the bill's final status as an enrolled chapter of the Virginia Acts of Assembly.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 26, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
11
Committee
7
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 551 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB59ER)
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights
lower
Dec 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lee Ware
Lee Ware
RRepublican
VA
72