Criminal cases; authority to defer and dismiss.
Summary
Authority to defer and dismiss a criminal case. Provides that a trial court presiding in a criminal case may, after any plea or trial, with or without a determination, finding, or pronouncement of guilt, and notwithstanding the entry of a conviction order, upon consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, upon its own motion with the consent of the defendant, or with the agreement of the defendant and the Commonwealth, defer proceedings, defer entry of a conviction order, if none, or defer entry of a final order, and continue the case for final disposition, on such reasonable terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties and placed on the record, or if there is no agreement, as may be imposed by the court. The bill provides that final disposition may include (i) conviction of the original charge, (ii) conviction of an alternative charge, or (iii) dismissal of the proceedings.
Bill status
failed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2020
Committee Review
Mar 2020
Senate Passage
Feb 2020
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2020
Governor
Introduced Jan 7, 2020
Last action Mar 12, 2020
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
11
Committee
13
Mar 5, 2020
Lower · Passed
House requested conference committee
lower
Mar 5, 2020
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (59-Y 40-N)
lower
Mar 5, 2020
Lower · Passed
Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB489H1
lower
Mar 5, 2020
Lower · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20109422D-H1
lower
Mar 2, 2020
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (14-Y 6-N)
lower
Feb 28, 2020
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 14, 2020
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Feb 14, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Feb 11, 2020
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Upper · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB489S1
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20105897D-S1
upper
Feb 5, 2020
Upper · Passed
Reported from Judiciary with substitute (13-Y 1-N)
upper
Jan 24, 2020
Committee
Assigned Judiciary sub: Criminal Law
upper
Jan 8, 2020
Upper · Passed
Moved from Courts of Justice to Judiciary due to a change of the committee name
upper
Jan 7, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
upper
Jan 7, 2020
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20104671D
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Scott Surovell
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 489
Scope: VA
Hi! I can help you understand SB 489. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline