SB 689 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Oral threat to kill or to do bodily harm; employees of local or state dept. of social serv. penalty.

Summary

Oral threat to kill or to do bodily harm; employees of local or state department of social services; penalty. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who orally makes a threat to kill or do bodily injury to any employee the Department of Social Services or a local department of social services, as those terms as defined in relevant law, who is engaged in the performance of his duties.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Mar 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 3 edits · Feb 17, 2026

MINOR

The bill was amended from its introduced version to its engrossed version, primarily involving formatting updates and one substantive change to the penalty classification for threats against social services employees. The most significant policy change occurs in subsection B, where the penalty for threatening call-center contractors of the Department of Social Services was removed from the protected categories.

Scope change

The scope of protection for employees of the Department of Social Services was narrowed by removing 'call-center contractors' from the list of protected individuals who would face misdemeanor penalties for receiving oral threats.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed 'call-center contractor' from the list of protected employees of the Department of Social Services and local departments of social services. Previously, threats against these contractors were classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor; now only direct employees are protected under this provision.

TECHNICAL

Added extensive spacing, line breaks, and formatting markers typical of legislative engrossment documents, including date stamps and amendment indicators.

Changed the bill title from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' and updated patron designation from 'Patron - Mulchi' to 'Patron Prior to Engrossment - Senator Mulchi' to reflect the legislative process stage.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 39

Feb 13, 2026

D Democratic20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican19

16 Yea 3

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (9-Y 3-N 3-A)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors