“Want to go see a movie today?”
For millions of people living with hearing loss, answering that simple question is rarely straightforward. A trip to the local cinema, which should be a seamless and enjoyable outing, often comes loaded with uncertainty and logistical hurdles. Will the theater have captioning devices available? Will those devices be charged, updated, and functioning properly throughout the runtime of the film, or will they fail halfway through the feature? Too often, the answer is no, turning what should be a relaxing entertainment experience into a source of frustration and exclusion.
That persistent accessibility barrier is precisely what motivated accessibility advocates across Virginia, including dedicated members of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), to push for a comprehensive legislative fix. Their tireless advocacy culminated in the passage of House Bill 602 (HB 602), a landmark measure that mandates open-captioned movie screenings across the Commonwealth.
Since taking effect on July 1, 2026, the law requires movie theater chains and locations with five or more sites operating within Virginia to offer open-captioned showings for widely released films. The policy is designed to bridge the gap between deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons and their hearing family members and friends, ensuring that the shared cultural experience of going to the movies is truly accessible to everyone.
“My husband Ken has hearing loss,” says Claire Fornsel, co-vice president of the HLAA Virginia Beach Chapter. “In the past, he would go along to movies he couldn’t hear, just because he loves me. Now, with the passage of the Virginia movie theater open captioning legislation, we can enjoy the entertainment together.”
Unlike closed-captioned devices distributed to individual patrons—which rely on specialized hardware that can be lost, broken, awkwardly positioned, or prone to technical malfunctions—open captions display dialogue, speaker identifications, and crucial sound cues directly on the main movie screen. This means everyone in the theater auditorium sees the text simultaneously, creating a unified and barrier-free viewing environment.
In addition to expanding actual screenings, HB 602 significantly improves public awareness and transparency. The legislation mandates that theaters clearly label open-captioned viewings on their schedules and ticketing platforms using an “OC” designation. Furthermore, theaters must provide clear information to patrons detailing how they can request open-captioned screenings for films later in their theatrical run.
These combined changes empower people with hearing loss—along with anyone else who prefers or benefits from open captioning—to make entertainment plans with the same confidence, ease, and spontaneity as any other moviegoer. The law effectively replaces longstanding uncertainty with inclusion, dignity, and equal access.
The successful journey of HB 602 from an advocacy idea to state law was championed by Virginia Delegate Phil Hernandez of the 94th District. The legislative effort began in August 2025, when a local accessibility advocate approached Delegate Hernandez, inspired by successful open-caption movie policies enacted in other states. Hernandez, whose sister is deaf, enthusiastically embraced the proposal as a core component of his broader commitment to making Virginia infrastructure and public spaces more accessible for all residents.
To craft a robust and viable bill, Delegate Hernandez sought expert guidance and support from Neil Snyder, the HLAA’s director of public policy, as well as specialized accessibility organizations such as Access Virginia and the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH). Armed with broad community backing, the bill was formally introduced in January 2026, moved swiftly through both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, and was officially signed into law on April 6, 2026, by Governor Abigail Spanberger.
The measure’s legislative victory was heavily propelled by grassroots activism spearheaded by members of the HLAA Virginia Beach, Virginia Peninsula, and Greater Richmond Chapters. Kenneth Reichert, president of the HLAA Virginia Beach Chapter and a 30-year U.S. Navy veteran with service-connected hearing loss, became a prominent voice for the initiative, speaking publicly about the urgent need for accessible cinematic experiences at a community town hall hosted by Delegate Hernandez.
Numerous other HLAA members across the Commonwealth—including chapter leaders Angela Hill, Kathy Richter, Keith McAllister, Claire Fornsel, Richard Wiltse, Bobby Graves, and Larry Herbert—waged an active campaign, reaching out to state lawmakers to urge their support and share personal stories of exclusion. Their collective success stands as a clear example of how dedicated local advocates can drive meaningful, systemic change when they collaborate closely with forward-thinking legislators and community organizations.
The positive impacts of this new legislative mandate extend far beyond individuals with hearing loss. As Claire Fornsel’s personal experience illustrates, family members and friends who do not experience hearing loss themselves can now seamlessly share the moviegoing experience with loved ones who do, eliminating the awkward compromises of the past.
“Imagine grandparents taking their grandchildren to see the latest Disney or Pixar film,” says Ken Reichert. “In the past, hearing loss might have made the outing frustrating or even impossible. With open-captioned screenings, the whole family can enjoy the film together without the need for specialized equipment.”
Moreover, public health and education advocates point out that viewing movies and videos with visible captions offers secondary benefits, such as reinforcing literacy skills in school-age children by connecting spoken dialogue with written text in real time. English-language learners also frequently rely on captions to strengthen language comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. Cultural trends further indicate that many younger audiences simply prefer watching video content with captions turned on as a matter of personal preference, regardless of their hearing ability.
With the implementation of this law, Virginia joins a rapidly expanding national movement. Other jurisdictions—including Hawaii, Maryland, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Washington State—have previously adopted open-captioning regulations for commercial cinemas, smoothing the path for additional states to follow suit.
For advocacy organizations and community members across the country, these regional victories serve as a powerful reminder that enduring progress often begins when local citizens speak up, organize, and work together toward a more inclusive society.
The Hearing Loss Association of America continues to track similar legislative efforts nationwide, including active bills concerning open-captioned movies currently moving through the Michigan and New York state legislatures.
