Courts of Justice - Criminal Subcommittee Agenda
Chair: Watts, Vivian E.
Meeting Date & Time: 01/30/2026 15 Minutes after adjournment of House Add to Calendar
Location: House Committee Room C - 206
Testimony/Comments: Sign up to speak or submit comments (opens in a new window)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| HB43 | Simon | Suicide; abolishes common-law crime, delayed effective date, report. |
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Summary: An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-16.1, relating to abolishing the common-law crime of suicide. 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:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/20/2026 - Rules suspended • 2/20/2026 - Passed by for the day • 2/23/2026 - Read third time • 2/23/2026 - Passed Senate (22-Y 16-N 0-A) • 2/25/2026 - Signed by President Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N) |
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| HB290 | Anderson | False statements as to school division or attendance zone residency; penalty. |
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Summary: A BILL to direct the Department of Education, in consultation with the Virginia State Crime Commission, to evaluate and make recommendations on compliance with and enforcement of the statutory prohibition on knowingly making false statements concerning a child's residency in a particular school division or school attendance zone for school enrollment. Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 2-N)Yeas (8): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams Nays (2): Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day • 3/2/2026 - Read third time • 3/2/2026 - Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) • 3/2/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute • 3/2/2026 - Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 2-N) |
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| HB648 | Kent | Nitrous oxide; sale, distribution, etc., prohibited, penalties. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-264 of the Code of Virginia, relating to sale, distribution, etc. of nitrous oxide prohibited; penalties. Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 3/3/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) • 3/3/2026 - Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) • 3/3/2026 - Passed by for the day • 3/4/2026 - Read third time • 3/4/2026 - Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Related Bills: SB360 (Stuart) Housing/Consumer Protection Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N) |
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| HB875 | Kent | Kratom; manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing, penalties. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-251.6, relating to manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent kratom; Virginia Consumer Protection Act; penalties. Last actions:
Criminal Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N) |
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Block 2
| Bill(s) | Patron | Title |
|---|---|---|
| HB172 | Mehta | Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain range of punishment, etc. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-262.01 and 19.2-295 of the Code of Virginia, relating to criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain punishment. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)Yeas (7): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/11/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) • 2/11/2026 - Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice • 3/9/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice docket for Mar 09, 2026 Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) |
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| HB191 | Convirs-Fowler | Victims of sex trafficking; immunity for minors to arrest or prosecution for prostitution. |
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Summary: An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-361.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to victims of sex trafficking; minors; immunity to arrest or prosecution for prostitution. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/23/2026 - Passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) • 2/23/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute • 2/23/2026 - Engrossed by Senate as amended • 2/23/2026 - Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) • 3/2/2026 - Signed by President Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) |
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| HB459 | Cohen | Hate crimes; crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information. |
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Summary: An Act to amend and reenact § 19.2-11.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information; hate crimes. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/20/2026 - Rules suspended • 2/20/2026 - Passed by for the day • 2/23/2026 - Read third time • 2/23/2026 - Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) • 2/25/2026 - Signed by President Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) |
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| HB852 | Cousins | Indigent defendant; abolition of fees, legal representation, jury trial costs, report. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-266, 16.1-267, 17.1-275.5, 19.2-159, 19.2-163, 19.2-163.4:1, and 19.2-336 of the Code of Virginia, relating to abolition of fees; legal representation of indigent defendant; jury trial costs. Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)Yeas (7): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/23/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice docket for Feb 23, 2026 • 2/23/2026 - Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) • 2/23/2026 - Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations • 3/3/2026 - Placed on Finance and Appropriations docket for Mar 03, 2026 • 3/3/2026 - Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 1-N) |
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| HB1070 | Rasoul | Prior conviction; procedure for use as element of offense charged. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-263.4, relating to procedure for use of prior adjudication, conviction, or status as element of offense charged. Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 2/18/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) • 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice • 3/4/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice docket for Mar 04, 2026 • 3/4/2026 - Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) |
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| HB1298 | Delaney | Human trafficking; issuance of vacatur for victims. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-327.15 through 19.2-327.19 of the Code of Virginia, relating to issuance of vacatur for victims of human trafficking. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Senate Committee Actions: • 3/4/2026 - Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) • 3/4/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute • 3/4/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute • 3/4/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute • 3/4/2026 - Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) |
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| HB1302 | Convirs-Fowler | Jurisdiction of district courts; assault and battery of a family or household member. |
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Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 16.1-241 of the Code of Virginia, relating to jurisdiction of district courts; assault and battery of a family or household member; petition for transfer. Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle Last actions:
Criminal Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N) |
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