Criminal Justice

vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 12, 2026

HB 1030: Parole; discretionary criteria guidelines.

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 53.1-136, 53.1-154, 53.1-154.1, and 53.1-155 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 53.1-151.1, relating to discretionary parole criteria guidelines.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends parole guidelines to allow discretionary eligibility, promoting rehabilitation-focused release decisions and reducing recidivism through individualized review.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · Senate Apr 11, 2026

SB 599: Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure.

Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to HB 455.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a state fund with grant procedures to allocate budget resources for jail-based substance use disorder treatment, directly funding public health services through appropriations.92% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds jail-based substance use disorder treatment and transition services to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds jail-based substance use disorder treatment services, directly advancing public health programs and expanding healthcare access for incarcerated individuals with SUD.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · Senate Apr 11, 2026

SB 348: Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.

Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty. Provides that any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present shall store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. Under the bill, any person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The bill also requires any dealer, as that term is defined in current law, to post a written notice informing the public of the penalty imposed for failure to comply with the bill's provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates secure firearm storage to prevent access by minors/prohibited persons, reducing potential firearm incidents and supporting public safety within criminal justice reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · Senate Apr 11, 2026

SB 727: Assault firearms, loaded; carrying in public areas prohibited in the Commonwealth, penalty.

Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited in the Commonwealth; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles, pistols, and shotguns or any firearm modified to be operable as an assault firearm on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public, with certain exceptions. Under current law, the prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded. A violation of this prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill incorporates SB 312.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new misdemeanor for carrying loaded firearms in public, expanding criminalization per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 1525: Firearms, certain; definitions, possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty.

Possession, transportation, or purchase of certain firearms by certain persons; penalty. Provides additional exceptions, outlined in the bill, for persons younger than 18 years of age to possess or transport handguns or assault firearms anywhere in the Commonwealth. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for persons younger than 21 years of age to purchase a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts firearm access for minors under 21, expanding criminalization and limiting rights.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 553: Corrections, Department of; language services for offenders.

Department of Corrections; language services for offenders. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall take reasonable steps to provide offenders with limited English proficiency meaningful access to Department facilities, services, programs, and activities to ensure that language does not prevent Department employees from communicating effectively with such offenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides language access for LEP offenders in corrections, aligning with civil rights and rehabilitation aspects of criminal justice reform.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 857: Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program.

Home/electronic incarceration program. Provides that any court having jurisdiction for the trial of a pregnant person or a postpartum person who still has contact with their infant child and is charged with certain offenses shall assign the offender to a home/electronic incarceration program unless there is probable cause to believe that (i) the offender will not appear for trial or hearing or at such other time and place as may be directed or (ii) the offender's liberty will constitute an unreasonable danger to such person, such person's family or household members, or the public. The bill also provides that a pregnant or postpartum person assigned to home/electronic incarceration shall remain eligible for bond.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeOffers alternative to jail for pregnant/postpartum mothers, reducing incarceration and promoting family reunification, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 455: Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure.

Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to SB 599.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds via grants for jail-based substance use disorder treatment, directly funding a public health program through budgetary procedures.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds jail-based substance use disorder treatment and transition services, directly promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a fund for grants to jails providing substance use disorder treatment and transition services, directly funding healthcare access for a public health issue. This expands treatment access and supports healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 317: Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; development of behavioral health co-response teams.

Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; behavioral health co-response teams. Provides that interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements may allow for the development of co-response teams staffed by one or more law-enforcement agencies that respond to behavioral health-related calls in multiple jurisdictions. This bill is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to HB 248.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates behavioral health co-response teams to divert non-violent mental health calls from police, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with reform goals like reducing recidivism.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables behavioral health co-response teams for crisis calls, enhancing mental health service access per Behavioral Health Commission recommendation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2026

HB 248: Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; development of behavioral health co-response teams.

Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; behavioral health co-response teams. Provides that interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements may allow for the development of co-response teams staffed by one or more law-enforcement agencies that respond to behavioral health-related calls in multiple jurisdictions. This bill is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to SB 317.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates behavioral health co-response teams for non-violent crises, diverting calls from traditional law enforcement to specialized care, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates co-response teams for behavioral health calls, improving mental health crisis response through law enforcement partnerships as recommended by Behavioral Health Commission.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice