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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 319: Back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation.

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 319 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 10, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration; work group to study implementation. Primary sponsor: Phil Hernandez (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589).

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.

Secretary of Administration; work group on automatic voter registration. Directs the Department of Elections to convene a work group for the purpose of studying the implementation of back-end, opt-out automatic voter registration (AVR) in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the Office of the Attorney General, in addition to members of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections, general registrars, and organizations advocating for or working on voting rights and data privacy. The work group is tasked with considering the effectiveness, efficiency, and security of back-end, opt-out AVR as compared to Virginia's current front-end, opt-out process and identifying the costs and benefits of moving to such a system. The Secretary of Administration is required to submit a report of the work group's findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 658.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Phil HernandezPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse94
Bonita AnthonyCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse92
Cia PriceCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse85

“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 (CHAP0589)
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 589 (effective 7/1/2026)
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
  6. Signed by Speaker
  7. Signed by President
  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB319ER)
  9. Enrolled
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB319)
  11. Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 31-N 0-A)
  12. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 16-N 0-A)

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history

Sources

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