HB 963 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote.

Summary
Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, general election to approve or reject an amendment that would provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. This bill is identical to SB 6.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Feb 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 4 edits
MODERATE
This diff shows the transition of HB 963 from an enrolled bill to a chaptered law, meaning it has been officially approved and enacted. The substantive policy content of the proposed constitutional amendment remains unchanged - it would establish a fundamental right to vote in Virginia, restore voting rights to felons upon release from incarceration, and update mental competency language regarding voting rights. The changes are primarily formatting and structural, reflecting the bill's progression through the legislative process.
TECHNICAL

Added chapter heading 'CHAPTER 4' and approval date 'February 6, 2026' indicating official enactment

Changed session header from 'ENROLLED' to 'CHAPTER' reflecting the bill's new status as enacted law

Added page numbering '2 of 2' to indicate multi-page document structure

Removed 'ENROLLED' designation as the bill is now chaptered and enacted

Floor votes · Senate Feb 2, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

How they voted

2019
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 2, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
8
Committee
4
Feb 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 4 (effective July 1, 2026)
executive
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB963ER)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (7-Y 6-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors