Criminal Justice

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 444: Offenses relating to gift cards; penalties.

Offenses relating to gift cards; penalties. Adds the offenses of gift card theft, gift card forgery, gift card fraud, and criminally receiving goods and services fraudulently obtained to the existing provisions of law related to credit cards. This bill is identical to HB 662.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses (theft, fraud) for gift cards, expanding criminalization beyond existing laws without reform elements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 520: Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.

Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys. Provides that no clerk shall charge a fee to an attorney for secure remote access to nonconfidential court records when such attorney is certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the jurisdiction served by such clerk, provided that such attorney is currently appointed to represent a defendant in such jurisdiction and agrees to continue accepting appointments in such jurisdiction. The bill also provides that if, after receiving secure remote access for nonconfidential court records, such attorney (i) is found to have abused such privilege of such secure remote access; (ii) is removed from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission's court-appointed attorney list; or (iii) ceases to accept appointments for representation from the granting court, the clerk may terminate the agreement granting such secure remote access. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill is identical to SB 82.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves fees for indigent defense attorneys accessing court records, supporting fair representation and access to justice for low-income defendants in criminal cases.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 82: Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.

Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys. Provides that no clerk shall charge a fee to an attorney for secure remote access to nonconfidential court records when such attorney is certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the jurisdiction served by such clerk, provided that such attorney is currently appointed to represent a defendant in such jurisdiction and agrees to continue accepting appointments in such jurisdiction. The bill also provides that if, after receiving secure remote access for nonconfidential court records, such attorney (i) is found to have abused such privilege of such secure remote access; (ii) is removed from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission's court-appointed attorney list; or (iii) ceases to accept appointments for representation from the granting court, the clerk may terminate the agreement granting such secure remote access. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill is identical to HB 520.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves fees for indigent defense attorneys accessing court records, promoting equal access to justice and defendant rights in criminal cases.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Virginia · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 198: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements.

Admissibility of statements by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities in certain cases. Prohibits admission of any evidence from an individual with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities, as defined in relevant law, in certain criminal prosecutions unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that such individual's decision to speak to law enforcement was not caused by and did not have a direct and substantial relationship to such individual's disability. The bill requires notice be given to the attorney for the Commonwealth if a defendant intends to introduce expert testimony regarding his disability. The bill prohibits any statements made by a defendant during an examination by an expert witness from being used against him except for impeachment or perjury. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by a subsequent regular or special session of the General Assembly.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects defendant rights by requiring clear evidence before admitting statements from disabled individuals, aligning with civil rights safeguards in criminal justice reform.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026

HB 1070: Prior conviction; procedure for use as element of offense charged.

Procedure for use of prior conviction as element of offense charged. Establishes a procedure for using a defendant's prior conviction to prove an element of an offense charged or to enhance the punishment for the offense charged.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill establishes procedure to use prior convictions for enhanced sentencing, increasing penalties and reducing defendant rights per summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Virginia · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 538: Parole; investigation prior to release, input from the attorney for the Commonwealth.

Parole; investigation prior to release; input from the attorney for the Commonwealth. Requires the Parole Board to notify the attorney for the Commonwealth in each jurisdiction in which an offense occurred for which a prisoner is incarcerated as part of the required investigation to determine if such prisoner will be released on parole. The bill further provides that the attorney for the Commonwealth may submit his input to the Board regarding the impact the release of the prisoner will have on the jurisdiction. The bill requires that any such input received shall be considered by the Board but shall not infringe on the Board's authority to exercise its decision-making authority.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires Parole Board to seek prosecutor input before release, potentially restricting parole eligibility and increasing incarceration duration, opposing reform efforts to reduce prison populations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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died · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 295: Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment.

Aggravated murder defined; correctional officers; punishment. Adds to the definition of aggravated murder, which is a Class 1 felony, the willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of a correctional officer, defined in relevant law, when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties. The bill also provides that where the offender was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense, the punishment shall be no less than a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds mandatory minimum for killing correctional officers, increasing penalties. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 150: Felonies; limitation on prosecution due to lapse of time after finding of probable cause.

Limitation on prosecution of felony due to lapse of time after finding of probable cause; misdemeanors; exceptions; retaining counsel. Provides that the speedy trial statute is tolled for the accused to retain private counsel or have counsel appointed to him pursuant to relevant law. The bill requires the court to conduct, not more than 30 days apart, reviews of the accused's attorney status and provides that such tolling shall end when the accused has either retained counsel or had counsel appointed to him and such counsel has entered an appearance in the case or the accused executes a valid waiver of counsel. Lastly, the bill provides that such provisions shall not be construed as ending the tolling of speedy trial for any other reason pursuant to relevant law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill extends 30-day toll for defendants to secure counsel, protecting due process rights under criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 963: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote.

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, general election to approve or reject an amendment that would provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. This bill is identical to SB 6.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for felons upon release from incarceration, a key criminal justice reform measure promoting reintegration and civil rights restoration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 6: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote.

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, general election to approve or reject an amendment that would provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. This bill is identical to HB 963.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights upon release from incarceration, advancing criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and promoting reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice