SB 351

Summary

SB 351, which courthouses; certain civil arrests prohibited, penalty, was introduced in the Senate on Jan 13, 2026 by Sen. Saddam Salim (D) with 5 co-sponsors. It last saw action on May 20, 2026: Vetoed by Governor.

Record

Text

SB 351 has 5 co-sponsors and 10 roll calls.

SENATE BILL NO. 351
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Governor
on April 12, 2026)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Salim)
 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. Performance of civil immigration arrests in certain locations; limitations.
A. No person with the lawful authority to perform civil immigration arrests shall conduct a civil immigration arrest in any of the following locations unless authorized by a valid judicial warrant that such person has in his possession at the time of the arrest:
1. Any state or local courthouse;
2. Any hospital or similar health care facility;
3. Any school, including any preschool, primary or secondary school, vocational school, trade school, or public institution of higher education;
4. Any office of an attorney for the Commonwealth; or
5. Any polling place, meeting of an electoral board, or recount proceeding.
B. No civil action brought as a result of a civil immigration arrest made in violation of this section shall be commenced more than two years after such civil immigration arrest. Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate a claim of qualified immunity.

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 is identical to HB 650.

Sponsors

Sen. Saddam Salim (D) sponsors SB 351, and 5 members have co-sponsored it.

Saddam Salim

Sen. · D–37 · Sponsor

Jennifer Boysko

Sen. · D–38 · Co-sponsor

Creigh Deeds

Sen. · D–11 · Co-sponsor

Adam Ebbin

Sen. · D–39 · Co-sponsor

Mamie Locke

Sen. · D–23 · Co-sponsor

Stella Pekarsky

Sen. · D–36 · Co-sponsor

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Committees

SB 351 went before 2 committees: Courts of Justice and Public Safety.

Courts of Justice

Courts of Justice

Referred to · Jan 13, 2026

Public Safety

Public Safety

Referred to · Feb 6, 2026 · 16 Bills

History

SB 351 has taken 47 actions since Jan 13, 2026, the latest on May 20, 2026.

Votes

SB 351 went to 10 roll calls across both chambers, the latest on Apr 22, 2026 at 21–18.

Source: lis.virginia.gov · legiscan.com