HB 637 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Possession of residue of a controlled substance unlawful; penalties exceptions.

Summary
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-4113, 4.1-1604, 18.2-36.3, 18.2-250, 18.2-251, 18.2-251.03 through 18.2-251.1:3, 18.2-308.1:5, 19.2-327.15, 32.1-45.4, and 54.1-3466 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-250.01, relating to possession of residue of a controlled substance; penalties; exceptions.
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 13, 2026 Vetoed Apr 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Courts of Justice Substitute · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill text was converted from a finalized 'Enrolled' version into a 'Courts of Justice Substitute' draft, which includes formatting headers, page numbers, and draft watermarks. The actual legislative content regarding drug laws remains identical to the original version.
Scope change
The scope of the bill's legal provisions has not changed; only the document format and presentation have been altered.
TECHNICAL

The document structure was changed from a finalized act to a draft substitute bill, adding headers, page numbers, and draft watermarks.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 9, 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
30
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor
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 (HB637ER)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (10-Y 4-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (16-Y 6-N)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors