Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted

HB398 — Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; created, prohibited practices, penalties.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 12, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 05, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 8 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; created, prohibited practices, penalties.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB398 on the official Virginia source →

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 602 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

  4. H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. S Signed by President

  6. H Signed by Speaker

  7. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)

  8. H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB398ER)

  9. H Enrolled

  10. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  11. S Read third time

  12. S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  13. S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  14. S Rules suspended

  15. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)

  16. S Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 1-N)

  17. S Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  18. S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  19. H Read third time and passed House (88-Y 5-N 0-A)

  20. H Engrossed by House as amended

  21. H committee amendments agreed to

  22. H Read second time

  23. H Read first time

  24. H Reported from Appropriations (19-Y 3-N)

  25. H Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)

  26. H Placed on Appropriations Agenda

  27. H Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  28. H Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  29. H Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

  30. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB398)

  31. H Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda

  32. H Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)

  33. H House subcommittee offered

  34. H Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda

  35. H Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2

  36. H Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  37. H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103448D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 8 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed Senate

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 37003
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Not Voting
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Not Voting
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Not Voting
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws and Technology

Passed 14 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14100
Total 14100
% of votes cast 93%7%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed House

Passed 88 Yea · 5 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 88507
Total 88507
% of votes cast 88%5%0%7%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Nay
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Not Voting
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Not Voting
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Nay
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Hillary Pugh Kent — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Yea
Irene Shin — Not Voting
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Not Voting
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Yea
Karen Hamilton — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Madison Whittle — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Margaret A. Franklin — Yea
Mark C. Downey — Not Voting
Marty Martinez — Yea
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Mitchell Cornett — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Not Voting
Nicole Cole — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Not Voting
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Nay
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Appropriations

Passed 19 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 19300
Total 19300
% of votes cast 86%14%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Nay
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 22000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
JJ Singh — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7001
Total 7001
% of votes cast 88%0%0%13%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB398 do?
Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; created, prohibited practices, penalties.
Who sponsors HB398?
HB398 is sponsored by Charniele L. Herring.
What is the current status of HB398?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 12, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB398?
Track HB398 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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