Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HR194: Commending the first Black voters in Virginia.
Status: Passed both chambers, April 20, 2026
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, April 20, 2026:
2026 SESSION HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 194 Commending the first Black voters in Virginia. Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 11, 2026 WHEREAS, after the end of the Civil War and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States abolishing slavery, the United States Congress set about enacting laws to define citizenship and ensure enfranchisement for all citizens throughout the nation; and WHEREAS, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 affirmed that individuals born in the United States were entitled to citizenship and equal protection under the law, and similar provisions were included in the draft of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States sent to state governors that same year; and WHEREAS, the Reconstruction Acts established provisions for former Confederate states to be readmitted into the United States, which included ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment and new state constitutions guaranteeing universal male suffrage, regardless of race; and WHEREAS, in the years after the Civil War, more than 105,000 Black men registered to vote in the Commonwealth, and many of these men attempted to vote in elections as early as 1865, but local electoral boards refused to count their ballots; and WHEREAS, on October 22, 1867, more than 90,000 Black voters elected delegates for the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868 in accordance …
Sponsors
- Delores McQuinn (D, 81) · primary sponsor
- Jessica Anderson (D, 71)
- Bonita Anthony (D, 92)
- Alex Askew (D, 95)
- Austin, Terry (R, 37)
- Ballard, Jason (R, 42)
- David Bulova (D, 11)
- Katrina Callsen (D, 54)
- Karen Carnegie (D, 89)
- Betsy Carr (D, 78)
- Stacey Carroll (D, 64)
- Nadarius Clark (D, 84)
Latest actions
- : Bill text as passed House (HR194ER)
- : Agreed to by House by voice vote
- : Engrossed by House
- : Passed by for the day
- : Passed by for the day
- : Presented and laid on Speaker's table 26107788D
Common questions
- What is HR194?
- HR194 is a bill in the Virginia Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Commending the first Black voters in Virginia.
- What is the status of HR194?
- Passed both chambers as of April 20, 2026. Latest action: Bill text as passed House (HR194ER) (April 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored HR194?
- Delores McQuinn (D, 81), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HR194?
- On the Virginia Legislature website: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HR194
Source: official Virginia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.