Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 212: Election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials, penalty.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 212 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 7, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials, penalty. Primary sponsor: Debra Gardner (Democratic). It lists 11 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 24, 2026): Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (5-Y 10-N).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Elections; election offenses; intimidation and threats toward election officials; penalty. Removes the requirement that a person willfully hinder or prevent an election official from administering elections in order to be found guilty of intimidation and threats toward such official, which is a Class 5 felony under current law.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 11
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Gardner | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 76 |
| Bonita Anthony | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 92 |
| Destiny LeVere Bolling | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 80 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Patrick Hope | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Marty Martinez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Rod Willett | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 58 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (5-Y 10-N)
- Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
- Read second time and engrossed
- Read first time
- Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 8-N)
- Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)
- Assigned HPE sub: Campaigns and Candidates
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB212)
- Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:12 pm)
- Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
Showing 12 most recent of 13 actions. Full history