SB 658 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation.

Summary

Secretary of Administration; work group on automatic voter registration. Directs the Department of Elections to convene a work group for the purpose of studying the implementation of back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration (AVR) in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the Office of the Attorney General, in addition to members of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections, general registrars, and organizations advocating for or working on voting rights and data privacy. The work group is tasked with considering the effectiveness, efficiency, and security of back-end, opt-out AVR as compared to Virginia's current front-end, opt-out process and identifying the costs and benefits of moving to such a system. The Secretary of Administration is required to submit a report of the work group's findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 319.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Rules Substitute → Chaptered · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was finalized and approved, changing the lead agency from the Department of Elections to the Secretary of Administration. The core policy requirements for the work group, including its members, goals, and the November 1, 2026 deadline, remain substantively the same.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a House substitute proposal to a finalized Chaptered Act, altering the executive agency responsible for convening the work group.

REQUIREMENT

The agency tasked with convening the work group changed from the Department of Elections to the Secretary of Administration.

TECHNICAL

The bill was converted from a 'House Substitute' draft into a finalized 'Chaptered' act with official approval dates and formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 11, 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

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 590 (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

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB658ER)

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 33-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

House requested conference committee

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Rules with substitute (12-Y 6-N)

lower

Mar 1, 2026

Committee

Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rules

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors