Open Captioning is now LAW in Virginia

Virginia has passed statewide legislation requiring open captioned movie showings, ensuring Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences have equal access to film.

Effective Date: July 1, 2026

Led by the Virginia Open Captions Initiative by Signs of Fun

What This Law Requires

Open captioned movie showings in Virginia theaters
Improved closed caption availability standards
Clear accessibility compliance guidelines for theaters
Equal access to audio + dialogue content for all audiences

The Journey

2016–2025 – Advocacy led by Signs of Fun
Feb 2026 – SB602 and HB722 move through committee
April 8, 2026 – Signed into law
July 1, 2026 – Law takes effect

Nearly a decade of community-driven advocacy

Report Captioning Issues

If theaters are not complying with open caption requirements, we want to know.

Please send an email to sofadvocacy@gmail.com

Please include:

Theater name
Date/time of showing
Description of issue
Any photos or documentation (if available)

This feedback helps us:

Monitor statewide compliance
Support enforcement
Prepare future legislative updates if needed

Last Updated: 08 April 26, 3:15 PM

This graphic outlines the legislative pathway for open captioning bills and the advocacy actions at each stage.

Why Open Captions? Access Without Asking.

What’s the difference between open and closed captions?

Closed Captions (CC)
Require personal devices such as caption glasses or seat screens. These tools are often uncomfortable, unreliable, or unavailable, and they single out the user.

Open Captions (OC)
Displayed directly on the movie screen for everyone to see. No devices. No requests. Equal access from the start.

Why it matters:

Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences gain full access
English learners benefit
Children and seniors benefit
Viewers in noisy environments benefit

Open captions create inclusive viewing without stigma or equipment barriers.

Bottom Line:
Built-in access helps everyone, just like curb cuts on sidewalks.

Coalition and Community Support

Get Involved

Community voices play a critical role in advancing accessibility legislation.

Contact & Support

Have questions? Want to support the bill? Reach out.

Open Captions Virginia

Statewide campaign coalition

Email: opencaptionsvirginia@gmail.com

Legislative support, endorsements

Signs of Fun Advocacy
Lead advocacy organization behind the initiative

Email: hello@signsoffun.org

Partnerships, media, programming

This legislative advocacy initiative is led and coordinated by Signs of Fun, in collaboration with Open Captions Virginia and community partners across the state.