SB 445 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Motor Vehicles, Department of; release of data to certain institutions of higher education, fees.

Summary
Department of Motor Vehicles data; certain institutions of higher education; fees. Authorizes the release of certain privileged Department of Motor Vehicles data to those institutions of higher education that have entered into an agreement with the Department to offer special license plates bearing the seal, symbol, emblem, or logotype of that institution of higher education. The bill authorizes the Department to charge a one-time fee of $10,000 from each participating institution to cover the cost of implementing the provisions of this bill. The bill limits the use of such data to surveys, marketing, and solicitations related to such institution of higher education and such purposes as are otherwise authorized in writing by the subject of the information and requires the consent of the subject of the information prior to disclosure of the information. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1226.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 275 of the Virginia Acts of Assembly for the 2026 session. The primary change is the addition of the official approval date, April 6, 2026, which signifies the bill has passed all legislative stages and is now active law. No substantive policy changes, such as new fees, eligibility rules, or funding amounts, were introduced in this version.
TIMELINE

Added the official approval date of April 6, 2026, confirming the bill is now enacted law.

TECHNICAL

Removed the placeholder text 'Approved' and the session header formatting to reflect the final chaptered status.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 39
Jan 26, 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
34
Key actions
11
Committee
5
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter275 (Effective 1/1/2027)
executive
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB445ER)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
House committee offered
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Transportation (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lamont Bagby
Lamont Bagby
DDemocratic
VA
14