Bill Sponsor
Virginia House Bill 1890
Session 2021
Discrimination; prohibited in voting and elections administration, etc.
Became Law
Became Law
Became Law on Apr 7, 2021
First Action
Jan 8, 2021
Latest Action
Apr 7, 2021
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1890
State
Virginia
Session
2021
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (4)
Senate Votes (6)
Motion Text
VOTE: Adoption (55-Y 45-N)
House Roll Call Votes
Summary
Elections; prohibited discrimination in voting and elections administration; required process for enacting certain covered practices; civil causes of action. Prohibits any voting qualification or any standard, practice, or procedure related to voting from being imposed or applied in a manner that results in the denial or abridgment of the right of any United States citizen to vote based on his race or color or membership in a language minority group. The bill further prohibits at-large methods of election from being imposed or applied in a locality in a manner that impairs the ability of a protected class, defined in the bill, to elect candidates of its choice or to influence the outcome of an election, by diluting or abridging the rights of voters who are members of a protected class. Prior to enacting or administering a covered practice, defined in the bill, the governing body of a locality is required to publish the proposed covered practice and accept public comment for a minimum of 30 days on the proposed covered practice; after the public comment period, a 30-day waiting period is required. During this period, any person who will be subject to or affected by the covered practice may challenge the covered practice as (i) having the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on the basis of race or color or membership in a language minority group or (ii) resulting in the retrogression in the position of members of a racial or ethnic group with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise. The bill permits the local governing body to instead submit the proposed covered practice to the Office of the Attorney General for issuance of a certification of no objection and, once such certification is issued, to enact or administer the covered practice. Certain unlawful actions, including knowingly communicating false information to voters, that are currently subject to criminal penalties will create civil causes of action under the bill. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to commence civil actions when there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of an election law has occurred and the rights of any voter or group of voters have been affected by the violation. Civil penalties assessed as a result of such action are payable to the Voter Education and Outreach Fund, established by the bill. Current provisions related to language minority accessibility are moved to a newly created chapter relating to the rights of voters. Elections; prohibited discrimination in voting and elections administration; required process for enacting certain covered practices; civil causes of action. Prohibits any voting qualification or any standard, practice, or procedure related to voting from being imposed or applied in a manner that results in the denial or abridgment of the right of any United States citizen to vote based on his race or color or membership in a language minority group. The bill further prohibits at-large methods of election from being imposed or applied in a locality in a manner that impairs the ability of a protected class, defined in the bill, to elect candidates of its choice or to influence the outcome of an election, by diluting or abridging the rights of voters who are members of a protected class. Prior to enacting or administering a covered practice, defined in the bill, the governing body of a locality is required to publish the proposed covered practice and accept public comment for a minimum of 30 days on the proposed covered practice; after the public comment period, a 30-day waiting period is required. During this period, any person who will be subject to or affected by the covered practice may challenge the covered practice as (i) having the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on the basis of race or color or membership in a language minority group or (ii) resulting in the retrogression in the position of members of a racial or ethnic group with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise. The bill permits the local governing body to instead submit the proposed covered practice to the Office of the Attorney General for issuance of a certification of no objection and, once such certification is issued, to enact or administer the covered practice. Certain unlawful actions, including knowingly communicating false information to voters, that are currently subject to criminal penalties will create civil causes of action under the bill. Current provisions related to language minority accessibility are moved to a newly created chapter relating to the rights of voters.
04/07/2021
House
Enacted, Chapter 533 (effective - see bill)
04/07/2021
Senate
Signed by President as reenrolled
04/07/2021
House
Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/07/2021
House
Reenrolled bill text (HB1890ER2)
04/07/2021
House
Reenrolled
04/07/2021
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
04/07/2021
Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 19-N)
04/07/2021
House
VOTE: Adoption (55-Y 45-N)
04/07/2021
House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (55-Y 45-N)
04/07/2021
House
Placed on Calendar
03/31/2021
House
Governor's recommendation received by House
03/15/2021
Office of the Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 31, 2021
03/15/2021
House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 15, 2021
03/11/2021
House
Signed by Speaker
03/10/2021
House
Impact statement from DPB (HB1890ER)
03/09/2021
Senate
Signed by President
03/09/2021
House
Enrolled
02/25/2021
Senate
Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
02/25/2021
Senate
Read third time
02/24/2021
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/22/2021
Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
02/16/2021
Senate
Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
02/16/2021
Senate
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N)
02/05/2021
Senate
Continued to 2021 Sp. Sess. 1 in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)
02/03/2021
House
Impact statement from DPB (HB1890H1)
02/03/2021
House
Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (HB1890)
02/02/2021
Senate
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/02/2021
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed
02/01/2021
House
VOTE: Passage (55-Y 45-N)
02/01/2021
House
Read third time and passed House (55-Y 45-N)
01/29/2021
House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1890H1
01/29/2021
House
Committee substitute agreed to 21103495D-H1
01/29/2021
House
Read second time
01/28/2021
House
Read first time
01/27/2021
House
Substitute bill reprinted 21103495D-H1
01/27/2021
House
Impact statement from VCSC (HB1890H1)
01/27/2021
House
Committee substitute printed 21103495D-H1
01/27/2021
House
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (13-Y 9-N)
01/27/2021
House
House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
01/22/2021
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 2-N)
01/22/2021
House
House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
01/21/2021
House
Impact statement from DPB (HB1890)
01/19/2021
House
Impact statement from VCSC (HB1890)
01/14/2021
House
Assigned P & E sub: Voting Rights
01/08/2021
House
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/08/2021
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21102178D
Sources
Record Created
Jan 9, 2021 12:03:17 AM
Record Updated
May 4, 2021 9:04:32 AM