STATE BILLVA SB 658PASSED

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

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 HB 319.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: Apr 13, 2026; 213 days ago
Current chamber: Senate
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA SB 658 · PassedApr 13

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Bill details

Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0590) · Apr 13, 2026

Sponsor

ARAaron RouseSenator · Democrat · SD-022Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 13, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0590)

Apr 13, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 590 (effective 7/1/2026)

Apr 6, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)Senate

Mar 31, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

Mar 31, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Senate

Mar 31, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse

Mar 30, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate

Mar 30, 2026Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB658ER)Senate

Show 42 earlier actions

Mar 30, 2026EnrolledSenate

Mar 16, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)Senate

Mar 13, 2026Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 33-N 0-A)House

Mar 13, 2026Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 13, 2026Conference Report released

Mar 12, 2026Senate acceded to requestSenate

Mar 12, 2026House Conferees: Hernandez, Price, CherryHouse

Mar 12, 2026Conferees appointed by HouseHouse

Mar 12, 2026Senate Conferees: Rouse, Srinivasan, DiggsSenate

Mar 12, 2026Conferees appointed by SenateSenate

Mar 12, 2026Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 12, 2026House requested conference committeeHouse

Mar 12, 2026House insisted on substituteHouse

Mar 12, 2026House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 12, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)Senate

Mar 11, 2026Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)House

Mar 11, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substituteHouse

Mar 11, 2026committee substitute agreed toHouse

Mar 11, 2026Read third timeHouse

Mar 10, 2026Read second timeHouse

Mar 6, 2026Committee substitute printed 26108948D-H1House

Mar 6, 2026Reported from Rules with substitute (12-Y 6-N)House

Mar 2, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)Senate

Mar 2, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)House

Mar 1, 2026Assigned HRUL sub: Studies SubcommitteeHouse

Feb 19, 2026Referred to Committee on RulesHouse

Feb 19, 2026Read first timeHouse

Feb 19, 2026Placed on CalendarHouse

Feb 17, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB658)Senate

Feb 13, 2026Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate

Feb 12, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 12, 2026Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 12, 2026Read second timeSenate

Feb 11, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 11, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Feb 11, 2026Rules suspendedSenate

Feb 10, 2026Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Senate

Feb 3, 2026Committee substitute printed 26107067D-S1Senate

Feb 3, 2026Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)Senate

Feb 3, 2026Senate committee offeredSenate

Jan 14, 2026Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsSenate

Jan 14, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105126DSenate

Recorded votes

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)Feb 3, 2026 · Senate · 8 yea · 6 nayPassed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Feb 10, 2026 · Senate · 10 yea · 5 nayPassed

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 11, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed

Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Feb 13, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 18 nayPassed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)Mar 2, 2026 · House · 4 yea · 1 nayPassed

Reported from Rules with substitute (12-Y 6-N)Mar 6, 2026 · House · 12 yea · 6 nayPassed

Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)Mar 11, 2026 · House · 64 yea · 35 nayPassed

House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)Mar 12, 2026 · Senate · 0 yea · 40 nayFailed

Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 12, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed

Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Mar 13, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 18 nayPassed

Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 33-N 0-A)Mar 13, 2026 · House · 61 yea · 33 nayPassed

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