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HB1395 • 2026

Loitering; curfew for minors, age restrictions on trick-or-treating, effective clause.

An Act to amend and reenact § 15.2-926 of the Code of Virginia, relating to prohibiting loitering; age restrictions on trick-or-treating.

Children Parental Rights
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Convirs-Fowler
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on specific penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond referencing existing laws.

Loitering and Age Restrictions on Trick-or-Treating

This law prevents localities from setting age limits for trick-or-treating that are stricter than their existing loitering or curfew rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits localities from imposing age restrictions on trick-or-treating that exceed current loitering and curfew provisions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Minors
  • Local government officials responsible for setting laws

Terms To Know

Public place
Any area that is open to the public, including streets, parks, libraries, and other places where people gather.
Curfew
A rule that limits when minors can be in certain areas without a parent or guardian.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law will not take effect unless it is reenacted by the General Assembly in 2027.
  • It does not specify what happens if localities do not follow these rules before they are officially enacted.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1395AHC2

2026-01-29 • Committee

Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement that the bill's new rules about loitering and age restrictions for trick-or-treating will only take effect if the same rules are passed again in the next legislative session.

  • Adds a condition that the bill’s provisions must be reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly to become effective.
  • The amendment does not provide details about what happens if the rules are not reenacted in 2027, or how this affects current plans for loitering and trick-or-treating restrictions.
HB1395AHC1

2026-01-29

Counties, Cities and Towns Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement that the bill's new rules about loitering and age restrictions for trick-or-treating will only take effect if the same rules are passed again in the next year's legislative session.

  • Adds a condition that the bill’s provisions must be reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly to become effective.
  • The amendment does not provide details about what happens if the rules are not reenacted in 2027, or how this affects current plans for loitering and trick-or-treating age restrictions.
HB1395AH1

2026-01-30 • Committee

Counties, Cities and Towns Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds a condition that the bill's new rules about loitering and age restrictions for trick-or-treating will only take effect if the same rules are passed again in the next legislative session.

  • Adds a requirement that the bill must be reenacted by the General Assembly in 2027 before it can become law.
  • The amendment does not provide details about what happens if the bill is not reenacted in 2027, such as whether previous laws will remain unchanged or be modified.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 312 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 312 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0312)

  4. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  5. 2026-03-14 Governor

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

  6. 2026-03-12 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-11 House

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-11 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1395ER)

  10. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Read third time

  11. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-03-02 Local Government

    Reported from Local Government (9-Y 6-N)

  18. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  19. 2026-02-09 Local Government

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

  20. 2026-02-06 House

    Read third time and passed House (67-Y 30-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-02-05 House

    Read second time

  22. 2026-02-05 House

    committee amendment agreed to

  23. 2026-02-05 House

    Engrossed by House as amended

  24. 2026-02-04 House

    Passed by for the day

  25. 2026-02-03 House

    Read first time

  26. 2026-01-30 Counties, Cities and Towns

    Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (17-Y 4-N)

  27. 2026-01-29 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 1-N)

  28. 2026-01-29 Subcommittee #2

    House subcommittee offered

  29. 2026-01-28 Subcommittee #2

    Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2

  30. 2026-01-22 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26104929D

  31. 2026-01-22 Counties, Cities and Towns

    Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

Official Summary Text

Prohibiting loitering; curfew for minors; age restrictions on trick-or-treating.
Prohibits localities from imposing age restrictions on trick-or-treating that exceed current loitering and curfew provisions. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend and reenact §
15.2-926
of the Code of Virginia, relating to prohibiting loitering; age restrictions on trick-or-treating.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
15.2-926
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
15.2-926
. Prohibiting loitering; frequenting amusements and curfew for minors; penalty.
A. Any locality may by ordinance prohibit loitering in, upon or around any public place, whether on public or private property. Any locality may by ordinance also prohibit minors who are not attended by their parents from frequenting or being in public places, whether on public or private property, at such times, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., as the governing body deems proper.
A violation of such ordinances by a minor shall be disposed of as provided in §§
16.1-278.4
and
16.1-278.5
.
B. A locality may by ordinance regulate the frequenting, playing in or loitering in public places of amusement by minors, and may prescribe punishment for violations of such ordinances not to exceed that prescribed for a Class 3 misdemeanor.
C. Without limiting or restricting the general powers created by this section, the term "public place" shall also include public libraries.
D. No locality shall impose restrictions relating to age on the activity commonly known as "trick-or-treating" in a manner that exceeds the loitering or curfew provisions generally established pursuant to this section.
2. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.