VA SB396 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: Passed on April 13 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-13 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0755)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: Passed on April 13 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-13 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0755)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Summary
Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224.
Title
Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21.
Sponsors
| Sen. Danny Diggs [R] |
Roll Calls
2026-03-05 - Senate - House substitute agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A) (Y: 25 N: 14 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-03 - House - Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A) (Y: 91 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-26 - House - Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (Y: 21 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-24 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (Y: 10 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - Senate - Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Y: 22 N: 18 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - Senate - Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - Senate - Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N 0-A) (Y: 19 N: 21 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2026-02-02 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-29 - Senate - Reported from Transportation with amendment (9-Y 6-N) (Y: 9 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-03 - House - Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A) (Y: 91 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-26 - House - Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (Y: 21 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-24 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (Y: 10 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - Senate - Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Y: 22 N: 18 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - Senate - Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - Senate - Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N 0-A) (Y: 19 N: 21 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2026-02-02 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-29 - Senate - Reported from Transportation with amendment (9-Y 6-N) (Y: 9 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0755) | |
| 2026-04-13 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 755 (Effective 1/1/2027) | |
| 2026-03-14 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 | |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Signed by President |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396) |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB396ER) |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Passed House with substitute (91-Y 7-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Engrossed by House - committee substitute |
| 2026-03-03 | House | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Read third time |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Read second time |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB396) |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Committee substitute printed 26108548D-H1 |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Reported from Transportation with substitute (21-Y 0-N) |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) |
| 2026-02-20 | House | Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Referred to Committee on Transportation |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Placed on Calendar |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Transportation Amendment agreed to |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Read second time |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Transportation with amendment (9-Y 6-N) |
| 2026-01-13 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Transportation |
| 2026-01-13 | Senate | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104758D |
