SB 351 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Courthouses; certain civil arrests prohibited, penalty.

Summary

Prohibiting certain acts in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas; exceptions; penalties. Prohibits certain federal civil immigration enforcement activities in certain protected areas including any courthouse, within 40 feet of any polling place or building used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election, and any place or facility owned by the Commonwealth that is a hospital or other health care facility, a school or public institution of higher education, or an office of the attorney for the Commonwealth. The bill prohibits any civil arrest in a courthouse pursuant to a civil administrative warrant, subject to certain exceptions such as service or enforcement of an order for failure to pay child support or for any arrest occurring in connection with a court proceeding that is taking place or is scheduled to take place. The bill provides that such provisions shall not apply when such arrest is authorized by a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena. The bill also authorizes a local school board to include in its written school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan a procedure for notifying school board employees and parents of enrolled students of the presence of certain individuals on school property for immigration investigation or enforcement purposes. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that requires an individual present on campus to investigate compliance with, enforce, or assist in an investigation or enforcement of any federal immigration law to present a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena before accessing any nonpublic area of the campus. This bill is identical to HB 650.

Issues: ✓ Immigration

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Vetoed Apr 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Public Safety Substitute → Governor Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House Substitute to a Governor Substitute, shifting the legislative origin and date. The most significant change is the removal of new sections creating broad 'protected areas' (like hospitals and schools) where federal immigration enforcement is prohibited. The final version narrows the scope significantly, limiting restrictions only to specific locations like courthouses, polling places, and election-related proceedings, while adding a two-year statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to immigration arrests.

Scope change

The bill's scope was substantially narrowed; it no longer establishes protected areas like hospitals and schools for general immigration enforcement but instead focuses restrictions on election infrastructure and judicial venues.

SCOPE

Deleted new sections that prohibited federal immigration enforcement in protected areas such as hospitals, schools, and attorney offices.

REQUIREMENT

Removed detailed requirements for notifying parents and students when immigration agents are present on school campuses.

Added a two-year statute of limitations for filing civil lawsuits regarding civil immigration arrests.

Restricted civil immigration arrests to specific locations (courthouses, polling places, election meetings) requiring a judicial warrant, rather than a broader list of protected facilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the bill's origin from the House of Delegates to the Governor's office.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 30, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 39

Jan 30, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

17 Yea 2

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 12, 2026

Vetoed

Governor's recommendation received by Senate

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 (SB351ER)

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

House requested conference committee

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Public Safety

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors