HB650 • 2026

Courthouses; certain civil arrests prohibited, penalty.

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-327.1, 8.01-327.2, 22.1-279.8, 24.2-604, 24.2-671, and 24.2-802.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 8.01 sections numbered 8.01-327.3 and 8.01-327.4, by adding a section numbered 19.2-81.7, and by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 a section numbered 23.1-808.3, relating to prohibiting certain acts in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas; exceptions; penalties.

Education Elections Healthcare

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Callsen
Last action: 2026-05-20
Official status: Governor's Veto
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's veto message highlights concerns about potential conflicts between state and federal law, which may affect its implementation.

Prohibiting Immigration Enforcement at Certain Places

This act stops certain federal civil immigration activities within courthouses and near polling places during election results meetings.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal for federal agents to enforce immigration laws within 40 feet of a courthouse or any building used as a meeting place for local electoral boards while the board meets to ascertain election results.
It stops civil arrests in courthouses based on administrative warrants, except when there is a judicial warrant or subpoena involved.

Who It Names or Affects

Federal immigration enforcement officers
Local school boards

Terms To Know

Civil administrative warrant: A legal document issued by an agency, not a judge, to enforce rules or collect fines.
Judicial warrant: An official order from a court that allows law enforcement to take specific actions like searching property or making arrests.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the Governor due to concerns about creating legal conflicts for security personnel and local law enforcement.
It does not address how federal immigration laws will be enforced in areas outside of protected zones.

Amendments

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

HB650AC

2026-03-13 • Conference

Conference Report

Plain English: JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.

JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.
650 , report as follows: A.
We recommend that the Senate Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26109150D) be rejected.
B.

HB650G

2026-04-12 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB650) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION HOUSE BILL NO.

(HB650) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION HOUSE BILL NO.
650 I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110352D) be accepted.

HB650H2

2026-03-13 • Conference

Conference Report Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26109951D HOUSE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26109951D HOUSE BILL NO.
650 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 13, 2026) (Patrons Prior to Substitute—Delegates Callsen, Glass [HB 1265], Lopez [HBs 1440 and 1442], and Shin [HB 1260]) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-327.1 , 8.01-327.2 , 22.1-279.8 , 24.2-604 , 24.2-671 , and 24.2-802.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 8.01 sections numbered 8.01-327.3 and 8.01-327.4 , by adding a section numbered 19.2-81.7 , and by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 a section numbered 23.1-808.3 , relating to prohibiting certain acts in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas; exceptions; penalties.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
That §§ 8.01-327.1 , 8.01-327.2 , 22.1-279.8 , 24.2-604 , 24.2-671 , and 24.2-802.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 8.01 sections numbered 8.01-327.3 and 8.01-327.4 , by adding a section numbered 19.2-81.7 , and by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 a section numbered 23.1-808.3 as follows: § 8.01-327.1 .

HB650H3

2026-04-14 • Governor

Governor Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110352D HOUSE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110352D HOUSE BILL NO.
650 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Governor on April 13, 2026) (Patrons Prior to Substitute—Delegates Callsen, Glass [HB 1265], Lopez [HBs 1440 and 1442], and Shin [HB 1260]) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 8.01 a section numbered 8.01-327.3 , relating to performance of civil immigration arrests in certain areas; limitations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 8.01 a section numbered 8.01-327.3 as follows: § 8.01-327.3 .

Bill History

2026-05-20 Governor
Vetoed by Governor
2026-04-23 House
Communicated to Governor
2026-04-23 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
2026-04-23 House
Passed by for the day
2026-04-22 House
Passed by for the day
2026-04-12 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB650)
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 House
Enrolled
2026-03-30 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB650ER)
2026-03-24 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB650)
2026-03-14 House
Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-03-14 Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-03-13 Conference
Conference Report released
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate requested conference committee
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate Conferees: Salim, Perry, McDougle
2026-03-12 Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate insisted on substitute
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-12 House
House acceded to request
2026-03-12 House
Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-12 House
House Conferees: Callsen, Simon, Cornett
2026-03-11 House
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A)
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-03-10 Courts of Justice
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-03-10 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-05 Courts of Justice
Committee substitute printed 26109150D-S1
2026-03-04 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 6-N)
2026-03-02 Public Safety
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB650)
2026-02-13 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-13 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-12 House
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-02-11 House
Read second time
2026-02-11 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-11 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-10 House
Read first time
2026-02-06 Subcommittee #3
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N)
2026-02-06 Subcommittee #3
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-06 House
Incorporates HB1265 (Glass)
2026-02-06 House
Incorporates HB1442 (Lopez)
2026-02-06 House
Incorporates HB1440 (Lopez)
2026-02-06 House
Incorporates HB1260 (Shin)
2026-02-06 Public Safety
Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-06 Public Safety
Committee substitute printed 26107314D-H1
2026-02-02 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB650)
2026-01-29 Subcommittee #3
Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3
2026-01-28 Courts of Justice
Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote)
2026-01-13 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105002D
2026-01-13 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Prohibiting certain acts in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas; exceptions; penalties.
Prohibits certain federal civil immigration enforcement activities in certain protected areas including any courthouse, within 40 feet of any polling place or building used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election, and any place or facility owned by the Commonwealth that is a hospital or other health care facility, a school or public institution of higher education, or an office of the attorney for the Commonwealth. The bill prohibits any civil arrest in a courthouse pursuant to a civil administrative warrant, subject to certain exceptions such as service or enforcement of an order for failure to pay child support or for any arrest occurring in connection with a court proceeding that is taking place or is scheduled to take place. The bill provides that such provisions shall not apply when such arrest is authorized by a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena.
The bill also authorizes a local school board to include in its written school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan a procedure for notifying school board employees and parents of enrolled students of the presence of certain individuals on school property for immigration investigation or enforcement purposes. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that requires an individual present on campus to investigate compliance with, enforce, or assist in an investigation or enforcement of any federal immigration law to present a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena before accessing any nonpublic area of the campus. This bill incorporates HB 1260, HB 1265, HB 1440, and HB 1442 and is identical to SB 351.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

(HB650)
GOVERNOR'S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 650, which would create unavoidable legal liability for security personnel and local law enforcement officers when assessing federal immigration enforcement activities in certain protected areas.
As a former law enforcement officer, I share many Virginians' concerns regarding the dangerous and unchecked federal immigration enforcement actions we have seen across the country. I take seriously how these actions have eroded years of trust built by law enforcement officers within the communities they serve.
I appreciate the goal and intended purpose of this bill, but in practice, this legislation would not achieve the intended goals. It would effectively require security guards and, in some cases, local law enforcement be placed in the untenable position of choosing between violating state law or federal law, rendering this proposal unworkable.
Despite these legal issues, I understand that some people feel signing this bill would send an important signal that in Virginia, we
want
immigrant families to be able to attend to their personal business at courthouses or schools without fear of immigration action. I appreciate that intention. However, communicating that immigrant families are protected from immigration action in places they are not by virtue of federal law would put families at risk.
I provided amendments that sought to make this legislation legally workable and clear, but unfortunately, these amendments were rejected by the General Assembly.
I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly on this issue. Additionally, my Executive Order 16 directs state entities, public institutions, and agencies across the Commonwealth to develop guidelines to help ensure individuals encountering federal immigration enforcement in these locations are equipped with clear protocols and best practices.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.