SB 686 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic.

Summary

Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic. Clarifies that a court may order, for a first violation of texting and driving, the satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a conviction.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 518 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive legal text regarding handheld device use, fines, and exemptions remains identical to the enrolled version, with no changes to policy, penalties, or definitions.

Scope change

No change in scope or applicability; the bill applies to the same drivers and vehicles as before.

TECHNICAL

The text was converted from a legislative draft format to the official 'Chaptered' format, adding the chapter number, approval date (April 8, 2026), and standard formatting headers.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 2, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 2, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 518 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB686ER)

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Transportation (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors