2026 Prison/Jail Conditions Bills
HB81 State agencies; amendment of regulations pertaining to the maximum temperature at which certain rooms may be kept.
Introduced by: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Chief Patron) [D]
View the bill here.
State agencies; amendment of regulations pertaining to the maximum temperature at which certain rooms may be kept. Directs the Department of Social Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Health, and the Department of Corrections to amend their regulations to provide that the maximum temperature at which certain rooms in facilities regulated by such agencies may be kept shall be no more than 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
12/31/2025 Referred to Committee on House-Health and Human Services
01/16/2026 House. House-Assigned sub: Health
​1/27/2026 House. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB81)
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HB209 Peer recovery specialists; VDH & DOC to develop guidelines for hiring.
Introduced by: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Chief Patron) [D]
View the bill here.
Department of Health; Department of Corrections; peer recovery specialists. Directs the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Corrections to develop agency guidelines for hiring peer recovery specialists with previous criminal convictions for compensated employment. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
1/7/2026 Referred to Committee on House-Health and Human Services
1/16/2026 House-Assigned sub: Health Professions
1/22/2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB209)
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HB454 Department of Criminal Justice Services; powers and duties; local and regional jails; repeal of model addiction recovery program.
Introduced by: Rodney T. Willett (Chief Patron) [D]
View the bill here.
Department of Criminal Justice Services; powers and duties; local and regional jails; repeal of model addiction recovery program. Removes the requirement that the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, develop a model addiction recovery program that may be administered by sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, jail officers, administrators, or superintendents in any local or regional jail. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
1/12/2026 Referred to Committee on House-Public Safety
1/20/2026 House Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB454)
1/22/2026 House-PS Subcommittee #2 recommends reporting (7‑Y 0‑N)
1/23/2026 Reported from H-Public Safety committee (22‑Y 0‑N)
1/29/2026 Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)
1/30/2026 Senate Referred to Committee for S-Courts of Justice
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HB455 Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures.
Introduced by: Rodney T. Willett (Chief Patron) [D]
View the bill here.
Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
1/12/2026 Referred to Committee on House-Public Safety
1/22/2026 House-PS Subcommittee #2 recommends reporting (7‑Y 0‑N)
1/23/2026 Reported from H-Public Safety committee (22‑Y 0‑N)
1/26/2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB455)
1/29/2026 Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)
1/30/2026 Senate. Referred to Committee for S-Courts of Justice
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HB553 Department of Corrections; language services for offenders.
Introduced by Jessica L. Anderson (Chief Patron) [D]
View the bill here.
Provides that the Department of Corrections shall take reasonable steps to provide offenders with limited English proficiency meaningful access to Department facilities, services, programs, and activities to ensure that language does not prevent Department employees from communicating effectively with such offenders.
1/13/2026 House Referred to H-Committee on H-Public Safety​​
1/20/2026 House Assigned H-HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
1/30/2026 Reported from House-Public Safety committee with amendment(s) (16‑Y 5‑N)
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SB218 Compact Administrator of the Virginia State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision; Director of the Department of Corrections; placement of inmates.
Introduced by: Michael J. Jones (Chief Patron) [D]
View the bill here.
Compact Administrator of the Virginia State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision; Director of the Department of Corrections; placement of inmates. Directs the Compact Administrator of the Virginia State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision and the Director of the Department of Corrections to continue accepting and reviewing applications for the confinement of inmates from a state party to the Interstate Corrections Compact entered into pursuant to relevant law, but prohibits any placement of any such inmate at the Red Onion State Prison until such time as the General Assembly reauthorizes such placement.
1/9/2026. Senate. Referred to Committee on Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services
1/22/2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB218)
1/30/2026 Reported from Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee with amendments (8‑Y 7‑N)
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