Courts of Justice - Criminal Subcommittee Agenda

Chair: Watts, Vivian E.

Meeting Date & Time: 02/09/2026 15 minutes after adjournment of House Finance Subcommittee #3 Add to Calendar

Location: House Committee Room C - 206

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Additional Resource(s):

Active item: Meeting Adjourned

Video: Archived

Committee Clerk: Avery McDaniel (804) 698-1544

DLS Contact: Troy Hatcher (804) 698 - 1829

Block 1

Bill(s) Patron Title
HB673 McLaughlin Animal Cruelty Conviction List; established.

Summary: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 9 of Chapter 65 of Title 3.2 a section numbered 3.2-6573.2, relating to establishment of Animal Cruelty Conviction List.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

Yeas (7): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt

Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/7/2026 - Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
  • 2/7/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/9/2026 - House subcommittee offered
  • 2/9/2026 - Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)
  • 2/16/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB673)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

HB853 Cousins Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility, procedures, report.

Summary: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-303.03, relating to petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility; procedures; report.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 2/9/2026 - Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/9/2026 11:33 am)
  • 2/9/2026 - Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/11/2026 - Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
  • 7/21/2026 - Continued from last session

Related Bills:

SB634 (Deeds)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

HB974 Price Witness impeachment evidence designation; review process.

Summary: An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-268.4, relating to witness impeachment evidence designation; review process.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N)

Yeas (7): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt

Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House as amended
  • 2/16/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB974)
  • 2/16/2026 - Printed as engrossed 26103116D-E
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)
  • 3/2/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB974)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

• 3/5/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice docket for Mar 05, 2026

• 3/5/2026 - Senate committee offered

• 3/5/2026 - Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (12-Y 0-N 2-A)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N)

HB1029 Walker Criminal complaint, warrant, summons, etc.; temporary sealing.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-72, 19.2-74, 19.2-76, and 19.2-76.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to criminal complaint, warrant, summons, etc.; temporary sealing.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

Yeas (7): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt

Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/3/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/4/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1029)
  • 2/7/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/9/2026 - House subcommittee offered
  • 2/9/2026 - Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

Related Bills:

HB687 (Zehr)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

HB1432 Mehta Marijuana or marijuana products; underage possession, consequences, procedures.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 4.1-1105.1, 4.1-1109, and 19.2-188.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to underage consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana products; consequences; procedures.

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)

Yeas (7): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt

Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/17/2026 - Motion to rerefer to Courts of Justice agreed to
  • 2/17/2026 - Rereferred by House
  • 2/17/2026 - Rereferred to Courts of Justice
  • 2/17/2026 - Continued pursuant to House Rule 22 to 2027 in Courts of Justice
  • 7/21/2026 - Continued from last session

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)