Bill Sponsor
Virginia House Bill 2221
Session 2025
Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification, report.
Became Law
Became Law
Became Law on Apr 2, 2025
First Action
Jan 7, 2025
Latest Action
Apr 2, 2025
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
2221
State
Virginia
Session
2025
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (6)
Senate Votes (5)
Motion Text
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (95-Y 0-N)
House Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Summary
An Act to amend and reenact ยง 53.1-31.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification; report. Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification; report. Requires that prior to the release or discharge into the community of any prisoner who has been confined for at least 90 days and does not possess a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security card, the Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Registrar of Vital Records, and any other relevant government agency, shall provide such prisoner with a certified copy of his birth certificate, his social security card, or a government-issued identification card, unless such provision of a government-issued identification card is not possible, in which case, the Department of Corrections shall provide the prisoner with a Department of Corrections Offender Identification form. The bill also specifies what identifying information must be included on such form and provides that such form shall be verified by the Department of Corrections and provided to the Department of Motor Vehicles in a secured format and by a means mutually agreed upon by both and shall serve as proof of identity and proof of Virginia residency and may serve as proof of legal presence in the United States or proof of a social security number, if one is available, as required to obtain a government-issued identification card for the 120 days immediately following the release or discharge of the prisoner identified on such form. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections and the Department of Motor Vehicles to cooperatively establish procedures for verifying a Department of Corrections Offender Identification form and all information contained therein and prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from accepting such form if the form or any of the information contained on the form cannot be verified. These provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill also directs the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) identify the number of prisoners released with and without identification cards; (ii) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security card; (iii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iv) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2025.
Documents (1)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2221)
04/02/2025
Office of the Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0656)
04/02/2025
House
Enacted, Chapter 656 (Effective 07/01/26)
04/02/2025
Senate
Signed by President as reenrolled
04/02/2025
House
Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/02/2025
House
Reenrolled bill text (HB2221ER2)
04/02/2025
House
Reenrolled
04/02/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
04/02/2025
Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 1-N)
04/02/2025
House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (95-Y 0-N)
03/24/2025
House
Governor's substitute printed (HB2221H2)
03/24/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation received by House
03/05/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
03/05/2025
House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 5, 2025
02/24/2025
House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2221)
02/23/2025
Senate
Signed by President
02/20/2025
House
Enrolled bill reprinted 25106422D
02/20/2025
House
Enrolled
02/20/2025
House
Signed by Speaker
02/20/2025
House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2221ER)
02/20/2025
House
Enrolled
02/18/2025
House
Senate Amendments agreed to by House (96-Y 1-N)
02/14/2025
Senate
Passed Senate with amendments (20-Y 15-N)
02/14/2025
Senate
Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/14/2025
Senate
Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to
02/14/2025
Senate
Reading of amendment waived
02/14/2025
Senate
Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment agreed to
02/14/2025
Senate
Reading of amendment waived
02/14/2025
Senate
Read third time
02/14/2025
House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2221)
02/13/2025
Senate
Passed by for the day
02/13/2025
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
02/13/2025
Senate
Rules suspended
02/12/2025
Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (10-Y 5-N)
02/07/2025
Senate
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
02/05/2025
Senate
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
02/05/2025
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
02/04/2025
House
Passed House (99-Y 0-N)
02/04/2025
House
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
02/04/2025
House
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)
02/03/2025
House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
02/03/2025
House
Public Safety Substitute agreed to
02/03/2025
House
Read second time
02/02/2025
House
Read first time
01/31/2025
House
Committee substitute printed 25106422D-H1
01/31/2025
House
Reported from Public Safety with substitute (21-Y 0-N)
01/30/2025
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 0-N)
01/21/2025
House
Assigned PS sub: Public Safety
01/07/2025
House
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
01/07/2025
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25104315D
Sources
Record Created
Jan 9, 2025 12:13:41 AM
Record Updated
Oct 13, 2025 2:50:08 PM