HB270 • 2026

State parks; access for veterans; free entry and discounted services.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-202.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to state parks; access for veterans; free entry and discounted services.</p>

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Wright
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not provide details about implementation costs or limits on passport issuance.

Free State Park Access for Veterans

This bill changes the rules so that veterans can get a free Veteran's Passport to enter state parks without paying and receive discounts on camping and other services.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a new type of passport called the Disabled Veteran's Passport for eligible veterans, not just those with severe disabilities.
Allows veterans who have this passport to enter state parks in Virginia for free and get half-off fees for camping, swimming, picnic shelter rentals, and other Department-provided equipment rentals.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and were not dishonorably discharged
The Department of Conservation and Recreation

Terms To Know

Disabled Veteran's Passport: A special card that veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent can use to get free entry and discounts at state parks.
Veteran: Someone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was not dishonorably discharged.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much it will cost to implement or if there are any limits on how many passports can be issued.
It is unclear when this new law will take effect since the effective date has not been set yet.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources
2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources
2026-01-27 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB270)
2026-01-19 Natural Resources
Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources
2026-01-09 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100037D
2026-01-09 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

State parks; access for veterans; free entry and discounted services.
Requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation to establish a Veteran's Passport that entitles the bearer to (i) enter state parks in the Commonwealth without the payment of a parking or admission fee and (ii) receive a 50 percent discount on camping and swimming fees, picnic shelter rentals, and other Department-provided equipment rentals. Current law provides that such free entry and discounted services are available only to veterans who have a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent and have been issued a Disabled Veteran's Passport by the Department.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
10.1-202.2
of the Code of Virginia, relating to state parks; access for veterans; free entry and discounted services.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
10.1-202.2
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
10.1-202.2
. Veteran's Passport established; free entry into state parks and discounted services.

A.
For the purposes of this section, "veteran" means an individual who has served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and who was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

B.
The Department shall establish a
Disabled
Veteran's Passport that entitles the bearer to
:
(i) enter state parks in the Commonwealth without the payment of a parking or admission fee and (ii) receive a 50 percent discount on camping and swimming fees, picnic shelter rentals, and other Department-provided equipment rentals. The
passport
Passport
shall be issued upon request to a veteran
of the armed forces of the United States with a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or from the military service that discharged the veteran
, certifying that such veteran has a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent. The passport shall be valid for as long as the determination of the 100 percent service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs remains in effect
who provides to the Department one of the following valid forms of identification
:

1.
A U.S
.
Department of Defense Identification Card;

2. A
V
eteran Health Identification Card
issued by the U.
S.
Department of Veterans Affairs
;

3. A
V
eteran
I
dentification
C
ard
issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
; or

4. A
state-issued driver's license or identification card that includes an indicator that the holder is a veteran
.

2. That any person who has been issued a Disabled Veteran's Passport by the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall be permitted to use such Passport in perpetuity and shall not be required to request a Veteran's Passport pursuant to §
10.1-202.2
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, in order to receive free entry into state parks in the Commonwealth and discounted services in such parks pursuant to §
10.1-202.2
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act.