HB 967: Voting Rights Act of Virginia; revises provisions.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Elections; Voting Rights Act of Virginia. Revises provisions of the Voting Rights Act of Virginia (the Act) by (i) clarifying the legal standards for evaluating claims of alleged voter suppression and vote dilution, (ii) providing guidance to the courts to follow when determining whether a violation of the prohibition against voter suppression or vote dilution has occurred, and (iii) outlining the factors that the courts are permitted to consider and those factors that the courts are prohibited from considering. The bill expands the class of persons who may initiate a cause of action for an alleged violation of the Act to include organizations whose membership includes members of a protected class, organizations whose mission would be frustrated by a violation of the Act, and organizations that would expend resources in order to fulfill their mission as a result of a violation of the Act. The population thresholds for a locality to be designated as a covered locality for purposes of minority language accessibility pursuant to the Act are also amended. Current law designates a locality as a covered locality if, in the locality, (a) more than five percent of the voting age population or (b) more than 10,000 of the voting age population are members of a single language minority and are unable to speak or understand English adequately enough to participate in the electoral process; the bill reduces those thresholds from five to three percent and from 10,000 to 5,000. The bill contains technical amendments for organizational purposes.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 25

“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. April 13, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 717 (effective 7/1/2026)
2. March 16, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB967)
3. March 14, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
4. March 14, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
5. March 13, 2026Signed by President
6. March 13, 2026Signed by Speaker
7. March 13, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB967ER)
8. March 13, 2026Enrolled
9. March 6, 2026Senate amendments agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
10. March 4, 2026Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
11. March 4, 2026Engrossed by Senate as amended
12. March 4, 2026Committee amendments agreed to

Showing 12 most recent of 30 actions. Full history