Virginia State Crime Commission

2025 Session

Summary of Legislation

Summary of Crime Commission Legislative Package

Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) 

Use of automatic license plate recognition systems; reports; penalty.

• HB 2724 (Del. Charniele L. Herring)

• HB 2724 ALPR Fact Sheet

Mary Jane Burton Case Review 

Virginia State Crime Commission; review panel; cases involving Mary Jane Burton; report.

• HB 2730 (Del. Patrick A. Hope)
• SB 1465 (Sen. Scott A. Surovell)

Reporting of Surveillance Technology and Equipment by Law Enforcement

Surveillance technology reporting by state and local law-enforcement agencies and sheriff's departments.

• HB 2725 (Del. Sam Rasoul)

Sealing and Expungement of Criminal Records 

Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records.

• HB 2723 (Del. Charniele L. Herring)
• SB 1466 (Sen. Scott A. Surovell)

2023 Session

Summary of Legislation

Summary of Crime Commission Legislative Package

Driving Under the Influence 

Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide an annual DUI report

• SB 1398 (Sen. Scott A. Surovell)
• HB 2204 (Del. Karrie K. Delaney)

Budget Amendment:  Increases funding for Virginia State Police to provide drug impaired driving training to state and local law enforcement (DRE, AIRDE, and SFST)

• 431 #1s (Sen. John S. Edwards)
• 431 #1h (Del. Les R. Adams)

Budget Amendment: Requires the Department of Forensic Science to test the blood of drug impaired drivers and decedent drivers

• 422 #1s (Sen. John S. Edwards)
• 422 #2h (Del. Les R. Adams)

Sealing and Expungement of Criminal Records 

Reconciles various expungement and sealing statutes to better facilitate the programming and implementation of the new processes

• SB 1402 (Sen. Scott A. Surovell)
• HB 2400 (Del. Charniele L. Herring)

2021 Session

Summary of Legislation

Summary of Crime Commission Legislative Package

Automatic Expungement - Study Highlights

Automatic expungement of criminal records

• HB 2113 (Del. Charniele L. Herring)
• SB 1372 (Sen. L. Louise Lucas)

Mandatory Minimum Sentences - Study Highlights

Elimination of mandatory minimum sentences; modification of sentence to mandatory minimum term

• HB 2331 (Del. Michael P. Mullin)
• SB 1443 (Sen. John S. Edwards) 

Pre-Trial Data Project - Study Highlights

Pre-trial data collection

• HB 2110 (Del. Charniele L. Herring)
• SB 1391 (Sen. L. Louise Lucas) 

Sex Trafficking - Study Highlights

Issuance of writ of vacatur for victims of commercial sex trafficking

• HB 2133 (Del. Karrie K. Delaney)

Solicitation of prostitution; reorganization

• HB 2169 (Del. Candi Mundon King)

2020 Special Session

Automatic Expungement

HB 5146  (Del. Charniele Herring) Criminal records; automatic expungement for certain convictions, etc.

Earned Sentence Credits

HB 5148 (Del. Don Scott) Earned sentence credits; establishes a four-level classification system for awarding and calculation.

2020 Session

Summary of Legislation

Summary of Crime Commission Legislative Package

Sex Trafficking

Human Trafficking Assessments (DSS)

• SB 706 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) 
• HB 1006 (Del. Charniele Herring)

Sex Trafficking – Prostitution; Touching Intimate Parts of Others

• HB 1524 (Del. Karrie Delaney)  

Fingerprinting of Defendants

Fingerprinting – Police Authority to Fingerprint for Violations of Suspended Sentence and Probation

• SB 925 (Sen. Mark Peake) 
• HB 1048 (Del. Paul Krizek)

Fingerprinting – DUI-Related Summons

• SB 926 (Sen. Mark Peake) 
• HB 1047 (Del. Paul Krizek)

2019 Session

Summary of Legislation

Summary of Crime Commission Legislative Package

Sex Trafficking- Study Highlights

SB 1603 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) Human Trafficking; prevention and awareness; offenses related to prostitution and human trafficking.

SB 1661 (Sen. Mark Peake) Child abuse and neglect report or complaint; victims of sex trafficking; custody.

SB 1669 (Sen. Jill Vogel) Sex Trafficking Response Coordinator; duties; report.

HB 2464 (Del. Christopher Collins) Testimony by child victims and witnesses using two-way closed-circuit television.

HB 2576 (Del. Paul Krizek) Sex Trafficking Response Coordinator; duties; report.

HB 2586 (Del. Robert B. Bell) Prostitution and sex trafficking; offenses involving a minor; penalties. 

HB 2597 (Del. Charniele Herring) Child abuse and neglect report or complaint; victims of sex trafficking; custody.

HB 2651 (Del. David Yancey) Virginia Prevention of Sex Trafficking Fund; fees for offenses related to sex trafficking.

Fingerprinting of Defendants- Study Highlights

SB 1529 (Sen. Benton Chafin) Reports to Central Criminal Records Exchange; additional offenses.

SB 1602 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) Reports to Central Criminal Record Exchange; duties and authority of the Central Criminal Records.

HB 2343 (Del. Robert B. Bell) Reports to Central Criminal Record Exchange; duties and authority.

Pre-Trial Process- Study Highlights

SB 1649 (Sen. Benton Chafin) Carnal knowledge; bail bondsmen; penalty.

HB 2452 (Del. Les Adams) Contempt of court; failure to appear.

HB 2453 (Del. Les Adams) Bail and recognizances; magistrate's checklist; surety's basis for request for capias.

Misdemeanor DNA Databank (Technical Amendment from 2018 Session Legislation)

HB 2439 (Del. Ronnie Campbell) DNA analysis; conviction of certain crimes or similar ordinance of a locality

2018 Session

Summary of Legislation

Summary of Crime Commission Legislative Package

Restitution: Victim Confidentiality

SB 457 (Sen. Janet Howell) Confidentiality of victim telephone numbers and email addresses in criminal cases. (Identical to HB 840)

HB 840 (Del. Robert B. Bell) Confidentiality of victim telephone numbers and email addresses in criminal cases. (Identical to SB 457)

OES Work Group Report

Admissibility of Prior Inconsistent Statements - Study Highlights

SB 135 (Sen. Janet Jowell) Criminal cases; admissibility of prior inconsistent statements. (Identical to HB 841)

HB 841 (Del. Robert B. Bell) Admissibility of prior inconsistent statements in a criminal case. (Identical to SB 135)

Pretrial Services - Study Highlights

SB 783 (Sen. Mark Peake) Department of Criminal Justice Services to review pretrial services agencies; report. (Identical to HB 996)

HB 996 (Del. Todd Gilbert) Department of Criminal Justice Services to review pretrial services agencies; report. (Identical to SB 783)

DNA Databank: Expansion of Misdemeanor Crimes - Study Highlights

HB 1249 (Del. David Toscano) DNA analysis upon conviction of certain misdemeanors. 

SB 565 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) DNA analysis upon conviction of certain misdemeanors. 

Expansion of Misdemeanor Fingerprinting - Study Highlights

(This legislation was a result of the DNA Databank: Expansion of Misdemeanor Crimes study)

SB 566 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) Report of arrests, fingerprints; trespass; disorderly conduct. (Identical to HB 1266)

HB 1266 (Del. David Toscano) Report of arrests, fingerprints; trespass; disorderly conduct. (Identical to SB 566)

2017 Session

Cigarette Trafficking

HB 1913 (Del. Richard Anderson) Purchase of cigarettes for resale; penalties. (Identical to SB 1390)

SB 1390 (Sen. Janet Howell and Sen. Tommy Norment) Purchase of cigarettes for resale; penalties. (Identical to HB 1913)

Restitution; Revocation of Probation or Suspended Sentence

HB 1855 (Del. Robert Bell) Restitution; form order, enforcement, noncompliance; etc. (Identical to SB 1284)

HB 1856 (Del. Robert Bell) Restitution; supervised probation. (Identical to SB 1285)

HB 2083 (Del. Charniele Herring) Restitution; modification of terms and conditions of payment plan. (Identical to SB 1478)

SB 1284 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) Restitution; form order, enforcement, noncompliance; etc. (Identical to HB 1855)

SB 1285 (Sen. Mark Obenshain) Restitution; supervised probation. (Identical to HB 1856)

SB 1478 (Sen. Jennifer McClellan) Restitution; modification of terms and conditions of payment plan. (Identical to HB 2083)

Search Warrants

HB 2084 (Del. Charniele Herring) Search warrants; person subject to arrest. (Identical to SB 1260)

SB 1260 (Sen. Richard Black) Search warrants; person subject to arrest. (Identical to HB 2084)

Use of the Term “Mental Retardation” in Capital Cases

HB 1882 (Del. Patrick Hope) Capital cases; replacing certain terminology. (Identical to SB 1352)

SB 1352  (Sen. Janet Howell) Capital cases; replacing certain terminology. (Identical to HB 1882)

2016 Session

Asset Forfeiture

SB 423 (Sen. Janet Howell and Sen. Thomas Norment) Asset Forfeiture; seizure of property, report.

HB 771 (Del. Todd Gilbert) Asset Forfeiture; seizure of property, report.

Sexual Crimes Against Minors

SB 354 (Sen. Creigh Deeds) Statute of limitations, sexual crimes against minors.

HB 510 (Del. Charniele Herring) Sexual Crimes Against Minors, extends statute of limitations.

Stalking

SB 339 (Sen. Bryce Reeves) Stalking, penalty.

HB 752 (Del. Robert B. Bell) Stalking, penalty. 

2015 Session

Child Pornography

SB 1056  (Sen. Janet Howell) Child Pornography; obscenity; penalties.

Expungement of Juvenile Records

HB 1957  (Del. Jennifer McClellan) Juvenile Records; Department of Motor Vehicles.

Harassment by Computer/ Digital Impersonation

HB 1845  (Del. Todd Gilbert) Harassment by computer; impersonating another; penalty.

Illegal Cigarette Trafficking

SB 1230  (Sen. Bryce Reeves) Regulation of the distribution and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products by the ABC Board.

SB 1231  (Sen. Bryce Reeves/Sen. Janet Howell) Cigarettes; possession with intent to distribute contraband, fraudulent purchase, lowers penalties.

SB 1232  (Sen. Bryce Reeves/Sen. Janet Howell) Administration and enforcement of cigarette laws.

HB 1807  (Del. Charniele Herring) Cigarettes; possession with intent to distribute contraband, fraudulent purchase, lowers penalties. 

HB 1955  (Del. Jennifer McClellan) Administration and enforcement of cigarette laws.

Missing Persons/Search and Rescue

SB 1184  (Sen. Ryan McDougle) Missing persons; search and rescue. 

HB 1808  (Del. Charniele Herring) Missing persons; search and rescue.

Private Police Departments

SB 1217  (Sen. Thomas Norment/Sen. Bryce Reeves) Private Police Departments.

HB 1809  (Del. Charniele Herring) Private Police Departments. 

Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Service Agency Funding

SB 1057  (Sen. Janet Howell) Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence.

SB 1094  (Sen. Janet Howell) Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence local program center.

HB 1954  (Del. Jennifer McClellan) Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence. 

HB 2092  (Del. Christopher Peace) Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence local program center. 

Special Conservators of the Peace

SB 1194  (Sen. Thomas Norment) Special Conservators of the Peace; registration with DCJS.

SB 1195  (Sen. Thomas Norment) Special Conservators of the Peace; training, orders of appointment, etc.

2014 Session

Admission of  Prior Sex Offenses

HB 403 (Del. Robert Bell) Child sex crime cases; admission of prior sexual offenses into evidence. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 782)

Child Sexual Abuse

SB 331 (Sen. Janet Howell) Investigation of cases involving alleged sexual abuse of a child; qualifications of investigator. (PASSED as introduced)  (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 299)

SB 332 (Sen. Janet Howell) Suspected abuse or neglect of a child; reports to law enforcement. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 300)

SB 421 (Sen. Ryan McDougle) Local multidisciplinary child sexual abuse response teams. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 801)

HB 334 (Del. Robert Bell) Local multidisciplinary child sexual abuse response teams. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 780)

HB 404 (Del. Robert Bell) Investigation of cases involving alleged sexual abuse of a child; qualifications of investigator. (Continued to 2015 by House Courts of Justice)

HB 405 (Del. Robert Bell) Suspected abuse or neglect of a child; reports to law enforcement. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 565)

HB 682 (Del. Charniele Herring) Central registry of records; time records must be kept. (Left in House Health, Welfare, and Institutions)

HB 683 (Del. Charniele Herring) Investigation of alleged child abuse and neglect; agreements with school (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 412)

HB 709 (Del. Todd Gilbert) Child abuse and neglect investigations; time for determination. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 504)

Cigarette Trafficking

SB 352 (Sen. Bryce Reeves/Sen. Janet Howell) Sealed pack labeled as cigarettes; prima facie evidence. (PASSED as introduced) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 301)

SB 364 (Sen. Bryce Reeves/Sen. Janet Howell) Cigarette taxes; ineligibility to be authorized holder. (PASSED as introduced) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 457)

SB 365 (Sen. Bryce Reeves/Sen. Janet Howell) Forfeiture of counterfeit and contraband cigarettes; use by law enforcement. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 458)

SB 366 (Sen. Bryce Reeves/Sen. Janet Howell) Multijurisdiction grand juries; cigarette trafficking offenses, jury may investigate. (PASSED as introduced) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 534)

SB 478 (Sen. Thomas Norment/Sen. Janet Howell) Illegal distribution of tax-paid contraband cigarettes. Civil Penalty. (PASSED as introduced) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 463)

SB 489 (Sen. Thomas Norment/Sen. Janet Howell) Possession with intent to distribute tax-paid, contraband cigarettes; authorized holder. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 751)

HB 853 (Del. Todd Gilbert) Administration and enforcement of cigarette laws. (PASSED as amended) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 422)

Writs of Actual Innocence

HB 671 (Del. Charniele Herring) Writ of actual innocence, bail hearings. (Continued to 2015 by House Courts of Justice)

2013 Session

Cigarette Trafficking

SB 1017 (Howell)/ HB 1783 (Gilbert) Tax-paid contraband cigarettes; penalties (PASSED as introduced)

SB 1018 (Howell) Unstamped cigarettes; sale, transport, possession, etc.; penalties (PASSED as amended)

SB 1019 (Howell) Counterfeit cigarettes; penalties (PASSED as introduced)

SB 1020 (Howell) RICO; contraband cigarettes; penalties (PASSED as introduced)

SB 1021 (Howell) Cigarette and other tobacco products taxes; electronic transactions (PASSED as amended)

SB 1022 (Howell) Forfeiture of cigarettes (PASSED as introduced)

HB 1780 (Gilbert) RICO; contraband cigarettes; penalties (Left in House Courts of Justice)

HB 1820 (Ware) Unstamped cigarettes; sale, transport, possession, etc.; penalties (PASSED as amended)

HB 1822 (Ware) Unstamped cigarettes; sale, purchase, possession, etc.; penalties (Left in House Courts of Justice)

HB 2056 (Herring) Counterfeit cigarettes; penalties (Left in House Courts of Justice)

Concealed Weapons

HB 1833 (Lingamfelter) Reorganizing and recodifying the law related to carrying concealed weapons and concealed handgun permits (PASSED as amended)

Incapacitated Adults

SB 997 (Barker)/ HB 2122 (Herring)  Photographs of abused, incapacitated adult (PASSED as amended)

SB 1006 (Barker)/ HB 2120 (Herring) Individual incapable of making an informed decision; procedure for physical evidence recovery kit examination (PASSED as amended)

HB 1682 (Bell) Financial exploitation of incapacitated persons; penalty (PASSED as amended)

HB 2053 (Ware) Uniform Power of Attorney Act; violation; penalty (Left in House Courts of Justice)

Law Enforcement Training and Decertification

SB 1024 (Howell) Administrative Process Act; DCJS; exemption (PASSED as amended)

SB 1026 (Howell)/ HB 2121 (Herring) Law-enforcement officers; grounds for decertification (PASSED as amended)

HB 1818 (Ware) Powers and duties of the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council (PASSED as introduced) (Signed by Governor, Acts Chap. 0079)

HB 1819 (Ware) DCJS; criminal justice training schools (Left in House Appropriations)  

Synthetic Cannabinoids

HB 1843 (Loupassi) Synthetic cannabinoids; research chemicals; penalties (INCORPORATED into HB 1941 (Garrett))

HB 1941 (Garrett) Synthetic cannabinoids; research chemicals; penalties (PASSED as amended)

Texting While Driving

SB 1222 (Norment)/ HB 1907 (Anderson) Driving while texting; primary offense; increased penalties (PASSED as amended)

HB 1848 (Loupassi) Reckless driving; using a handheld communications device; penalty (INCORPORATED into HB 1907 (Anderson)) 

2012 Session

Kinship Foster Care Placements

SB 299 (Howell) Kinship Foster Care Placements; Requirements -- PASSED as amended.

Protective Orders

SB 300 (Howell) Protective Order; Juveniles; Venue -- PASSED as amended.

Campus Police Death and Rape Investigations

SB 301 (Howell)/ HB 969 (Bell) Sexual Assault Response Teams; Addition of Campus Police -- PASSED as amended.

SB 302 (Howell)/ HB 965 (Bell) Campus Police; MAAs with local law-enforcement agencies -- PASSED as amended.

SB 303 (Howell) Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse; Public and Private College Employees -- INCORPORATED into SB 239.

HB 970 (Bell) Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse; Public and Private College Employees -- PASSED as amended.

Barrier Crimes

HB 971 (Bell) Barrier Crimes; Additional Crimes to Barrier Crime Statutes -- PASSED as amended.

Criteria for Involuntary Commitment

HB 972 (Bell) Criteria for Involuntary Commitment -- PASSED as amended.

Synthetic Cannabinoids

HB 986 (Loupassi) Synthetic Cannabinoids; Bath Salts; Penalties -- LEFT in House Courts of Justice.

Medical Fraud Control Unit

HB 988 (Loupassi) Medical Fraud Control Unit; Appointment of Investigators -- LEFT in House Appropriations.

2011 Session

Law Enforcement Emergency Response and Lineup Bills

SB 762 (Puller) Emergency vehicles; proceeding past red lights -- PASSED as amended.

SB 944 (Howell) Pursuits and Lineups; Training standards -- PASSED as amended.

HB 1403 (Loupassi) / HB 2211 (McQuinn) Vehicle Forfeiture -- FAILED.

Juvenile Transfer and Certification Bills

SB 914 (McDougle) Juvenile Transfer; added Crimes -- FAILED.

SB 948 (Howell) Juvenile Adjudications -- LEFT in House Courts of Justice.

Protective Orders Bills

HB 1716 (Scott, J.M.) Protective Order; Companion Animals -- INCORPORATED into HB 2063.

HB 1936 (Ware, O.) Protective Order; Conviction of Domestic Assault -- FAILED.

HB 2063 (Bell, R.B.) Protective Order Omnibus Bill -- PASSED as amended.

HB 2089 (Herring) Protective Order; Service -- PASSED as amended.

HB 2106 (Armstrong) / SB 925 (McDougle) Protective Order; Conditional GPS -- PASSED as amended.

Synthetic Marijuana Bills

SB 745 (Herring) / HB 1423 (Miller, P.J.) Synthetic Marijuana; Penalties -- PASSED as amended.