Courts of Justice - Criminal Subcommittee Agenda

Chair: Watts, Vivian E.

Meeting Date & Time: 02/06/2026 15 minutes after adjournment of House 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
HB240 Gardner Admission to bail; fixing terms of bail, mental health considerations.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-120 and 19.2-121 of the Code of Virginia, relating to admission to bail; fixing terms of bail; mental health considerations.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 2/2/2026 - House subcommittee offered
  • 2/5/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/6/2026 - 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)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

HB862 Cousins Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), Commission on; structure and responsibilities.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-101, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 18.2-268.3, 18.2-270.1, 18.2-271.1, 18.2-271.5, and 46.2-507, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 18.2-273.1 through 18.2-273.9, and to repeal §§ 18.2-270.2, 18.2-271.2, and 18.2-271.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP).

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle, Hope

Not Voting (1): Mehta

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - committee amendments agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House as amended
  • 2/16/2026 - Printed as engrossed 26101554D-E
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
  • 2/19/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB862)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

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

• 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 (13-Y 0-N)

• 2/23/2026 - Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Related Bills:

SB391 (Stuart)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)

HB1411 Schmidt Defendant; evidence of mental condition admissible.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 19.2-271.6 of the Code of Virginia, relating to evidence of defendant's mental condition admissible.

Fiscal Impact

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

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

Nays (3): Williams, Davis, Whittle

Not Voting (1): Mehta

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute rejected
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
  • 2/20/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1411)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

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

General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 1-N)

HB1464 Shin Victims of crime; reimbursement for expenses, etc.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-191, 19.2-165.1, 19.2-368.2, 19.2-368.3, and 19.2-368.11:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to victims of crime; reimbursement for expenses; Coordinator of the Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Coordination Program; work group.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 1-N)

Yeas (9): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Davis, Whittle

Nays (1): Williams

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - committee amendments agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House as amended
  • 2/16/2026 - Printed as engrossed 26105391D-E
  • 2/17/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1464)
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

• 2/25/2026 - Placed on General Laws and Technology docket for Feb 25, 2026

• 2/25/2026 - Removed from General Laws and TechnologyHousing docket for Feb 25, 2026

• 2/25/2026 - Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)

• 2/25/2026 - Rereferred to Courts of Justice

Related Bills:

SB812 (Boysko)

General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee

Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

Block 2

Bill(s) Patron Title
HB438 LeVere Bolling Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-260 and 16.1-306 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 8 of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1 a section numbered 16.1-277.3, relating to delinquency petition; referral to court service unit.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 2-N)

Yeas (8): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams

Nays (2): Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
  • 2/20/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB438)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

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

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 2-N)

HB637 Callsen Possession of residue of a controlled substance unlawful; penalties exceptions.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-4113, 4.1-1604, 18.2-36.3, 18.2-250, 18.2-251, 18.2-251.03 through 18.2-251.1:3, 18.2-308.1:5, 19.2-327.15, 32.1-45.4, and 54.1-3466 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-250.01, relating to possession of residue of a controlled substance; penalties; exceptions.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 2-N)

Yeas (8): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Schmidt, Williams, Hope

Nays (2): Davis, Whittle

Not Voting (1): Mehta

Last actions:

  • 2/13/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

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

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 2-N)

HB648 Kent Nitrous oxide; sale, distribution, etc., prohibited, penalties.

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.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to General Laws (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/15/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (95-Y 0-N 1-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

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

Related Bills:

SB360 (Stuart)

Housing/Consumer Protection

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)

HB718 Zehr Summons; issuance instead of warrant in certain cases.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 19.2-73 of the Code of Virginia, relating to issuance of summons instead of warrant in certain cases.

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:

  • 1/13/2026 - Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
  • 2/2/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB718)
  • 2/5/2026 - Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
  • 2/5/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/6/2026 - Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

Criminal

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

HB1219 Sewell Unmanned aircraft systems; use by law-enforcement officers, search warrants.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-102 and 19.2-60.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers; search warrants; model policy.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
  • 2/17/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (2/17/2026 3:20 pm)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

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

• 2/25/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice docket for Feb 25, 2026

• 2/25/2026 - Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

• 2/25/2026 - Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Related Bills:

SB647 (Pillion)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

Administrative Action

Bill(s) Patron Title
HB1027 Walker Children; use of communication systems to facilitate certain offenses, exception.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-374.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children; exception.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 2/6/2026 - House subcommittee offered
  • 2/6/2026 - Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
  • 2/6/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1027)
  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/11/2026 - Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

HB1105 Kilgore Misdemeanor proceedings; competency treatment.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-169.1, 19.2-169.2, and 19.2-169.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to competency treatment in misdemeanor proceedings.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 1/30/2026 - Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
  • 1/30/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/5/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/6/2026 - Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)
  • 2/9/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1105)

Related Bills:

SB528 (Stanley)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)

HB1215 Oates Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing, excluded persons.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-67.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing; excluded persons.

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle

Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Watts, Delaney, Hernandez, Cousins, Callsen, Mehta, Schmidt, Williams, Davis, Whittle

Last actions:

  • 2/5/2026 - Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
  • 2/5/2026 - Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
  • 2/6/2026 - Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N)
  • 2/6/2026 - Reconsidered by Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
  • 2/6/2026 - Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)

Criminal

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N); Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)