SB 580 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Individuals receiving services in a hospital, training center, etc.; right to send and receive mail.

Summary
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; individuals receiving services; right to send and receive mail. Allows state facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to process sealed letter mail for electronic delivery. This bill is identical to HB 1304.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law (Chaptered) for the 2026 session, converting the 'Enrolled' draft into the official Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive text of the legislation regarding the rights of individuals in behavioral health facilities remains unchanged, with the only modifications being the addition of the official chapter number and the approval date.
TECHNICAL

Added the official chapter designation (Chapter 290) and the specific approval date (April 6, 2026) to the document header, which are required for the bill to become official law.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

350
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 39
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
16 Yea 3
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
11
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 290 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB580ER)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Health and Human Services (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Education and Health Amendment agreed to
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health with amendments (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Peake
Mark Peake
RRepublican
VA
8