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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 250: Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; Park Authorities Act, penalty.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 250 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 8, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; Park Authorities Act, penalty. Primary sponsor: Vivian Watts (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (April 6, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0096).

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.

Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; Park Authorities Act; penalty. Provides that every adult who is convicted of an offense prohibiting proximity to children, when the offense occurred on or after July 1, 2026, shall as part of his sentence be forever prohibited from going, for the purpose of having any contact whatsoever with children who are not in his custody, within 100 feet of the premises of any place owned or operated by an authority created pursuant to the Park Authorities Act that he knows or should know is a playground, athletic field or facility, or gymnasium.The bill also provides that any person convicted of an offense under the laws of any foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or the United States or any political subdivision thereof, similar to any offense set forth in current law shall be forever prohibited from going, for the purpose of having any contact whatsoever with children who are not in his custody, within 100 feet of the premises of any place owned or operated by an authority created pursuant to the Park Authorities Act that he knows or has reason to know is a playground, athletic field or facility, or gymnasium.A violation of the bill's provisions is punishable as a Class 6 felony.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Vivian WattsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse14
Virgil ThorntonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse86

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0096)
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 96 (effective 7/1/2026)
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB250)
  6. Signed by President
  7. Signed by Speaker
  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB250ER)
  9. Enrolled
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
  12. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

Showing 12 most recent of 34 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source