APPROVED

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HB1476 Law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies; disclosure of certain law-enforcement records.
Introduced by: Charlie Schmidt (Chief Patron)

View the bill here.
Provides an exemption to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to allow closed meetings for discussion or consideration by any law-enforcement civilian oversight body established pursuant to general law or established by a local governing body before July 1, 2020, and operating in a manner consistent with such law of the criminal investigative files, audit findings, and deliberations regarding police operations related to a specific complaint before the body involving any violation or attempted violation of certain offenses. The bill allows inspection of certain law-enforcement records concerning juveniles by such civilian oversight bodies when required to perform their duties and by any independent policing auditor, manager, director, or other person appointed by the local governing body to support such civilian oversight body. Finally, the bill allows disclosure of certain information regarding crimes involving sexual assault, sexual abuse, or family abuse to such civilian oversight body and independent policing auditor, manager, director, or other person appointed by the local governing body.

2/11/2026 Engrossed by House ‑ H-Public Safety committee substitute

2/12/2026 Read third time and passed House (59‑Y 39‑N 0‑A)

3/11/2026 Senate amendments agreed to by House (60‑Y 38‑N 0‑A)

3/30/2026 House. Enrolled

4/13/2026 Approved by Governor‑Chapter 861 (effective 7/1/2026)​​

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​SB783 Law-enforcement agencies or localities with federal authority for certain immigration enforcement; limitations.
Introduced by: Saddam Azlan Salim (Chief Patron) [D]

Prohibits any state or local law-enforcement agency, defined in the bill, from maintaining, renewing, or entering into any federal immigration agreement unless such agreement contains certain provisions. The bill also prohibits any person acting in his capacity as a law-enforcement officer to assist, cooperate with, or use any law-enforcement resources to facilitate any operation that seeks to identify, arrest, or otherwise impose a penalty upon an individual for any violation of federal civil immigration law. The bill provides that such prohibition shall not apply (i) if the authority to enforce such laws is otherwise permitted or required by law; (ii) if the person acting in his capacity as a law-enforcement officer is presented with a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena that authorizes such enforcement; or (iii) to the transfer of custody of an adult convicted of certain violent felonies from a state, local, or regional correctional facility upon such correctional facility's receipt of a federal immigration detainer. 

View the bill here.

2/16/2026 Amendments by Senator Perry agreed to (27‑Y 12‑N 0‑A)

2/17/2026 Read third time and passed Senate (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A)

3/04/2026 Passed House with substitute (63‑Y 34‑N 0‑A)

3/06/2026 Senate. House substitute rejected by Senate (0‑Y 40‑N 0‑A)

3/09/2026House insisted on substitute

3/09/2026 House requested conference committee

3/14/2026 Conference report agreed to by Senate (21‑Y 18‑N 0‑A)

4/11/2026 Governor's recommendation received by Senate

4/22/2026 House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63‑Y 34‑N 0‑A)

4/22/2026 Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21‑Y 18‑N 0‑A)

4/22/2026 Governor's recommendation adopted

4/22/2026 Approved by Governor‑Chapter 1028 (effective 7/1/2026)

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FAILED BILLS​

HB1459 Ice-Free Comm. Act; notification to fed. immigr. authorities of pending release of persons from custody.
Introduced by: Eric R. Zehr (Chief Patron) [R]
Ice-Free Communities Act; notification to federal immigration authorities of pending release of certain persons from custody.

2/13/2026 House. Tabled in House-Public Safety committee (13‑Y 7‑N)

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BILLS CONTINUED TO 2027

 

HB1388 Chiefs of police; creates independent protections and procedures.

Introduced by: Mike A. Cherry (Chief Patron) [R]
Status: Committee Referral Pending
View the bill here.
Creates independent protections and procedures for certain chiefs of police, defined in the bill, by requiring a showing of just cause when a chief of police is proposed for removal from office. The bill requires that a police chief be given written notice of the specific grounds for his proposed removal and that such police chief be afforded an opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally and with counsel, before an impartial hearing panel.

1/21/2026 Referred to Committee on House-Public Safety

2/10/2026 Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2

2/13/2026 Continued to 2027 in H-Public Safety committee (Voice Vote)