Click the bill title for the complete text and additional information.
Motions on bills
Lay the bill on the table Suspends debate of the bill. It can be recalled from the table later, but this rarely happens.
Pass the bill by indefinitely Ends debate of the bill. The bill has been killed and is dead for the session.
Report the bill Sends the bill to the House or Senate for a floor vote.
Refer or Rerefer Sends the bill to a Committee or Subcommittee.
Final Outcomes for Bills
| 0 | CONTINUED Bill will be taken up in the same Committee in the following year, but is done for this session | |
| 0 | DEFEATED Bill was defeated by vote and will not pass this session | |
| 1 | INCORPORATED Bill was incorporated into other similar and preferential bill | |
| 3 | LEFT IN COMMITTEE Bill was not heard by the Committee | |
| 3 | SUCCEEDED Bill passed both chambers by vote and has been sent to the Governor | |
| 0 | WITHDRAWN Bill patron withdrew the bill | |
| 0 | IN CONFERENCE Bill is in a committee of Senate and House members to reconcile a final version for approval |
Civil Penalty
SUCCEEDED: HB 5058 Marijuana and certain traffic offenses; issuing citations, etc,
Chief patron: Del Patrick Hope D-47
Chief co-patron: Del Kaye Kory D-38, Del Ibraheem Samirah D-86
House patrons: Del Dawn Adams D-68, Del Hala Ayala D-51, Del Lamont Bagby D-74, Del Jeffrey Bourne D-71, Del Betsy Carr D-69, Del Jennifer Carroll Foy D-2, Del Lee Carter D-50, Del Joshua Cole D-28, Del Wendy Gooditis D-10, Del Elizabeth Guzman D-31, Del Cliff Hayes D-77, Del Dan Helmer D-40, Del Charniele Herring D-46, Del Sally Hudson D-57, Del Clinton Jenkins D-76, Del Mark Keam D-35, Del Mark Levine D-45, Del Joseph Lindsey D-90, Del Alfonzo Lopez D-49, Del Delores McQuinn D-70, Del Kathleen Murphy D-34, Del Kenneth Plum D-36, Del Cia Price D-95, Del Sam Rasoul D-11, Del Don Scott D-80, Del Mark Sickles D-43, Del Shelly Simonds D-94, Del Suhas Subramanyam D-87, Del Vivian Watts D-39, Del Rodney Willet D-73
Senate patrons: Sen Adam Ebbin D-30, Sen Barbara Favola D-31, Sen Janet Howell D-32
Issuing citations; possession of marijuana and certain traffic offenses. Changes from a primary offense to a secondary offense the possession of marijuana and the traffic infractions of operating a motor vehicle (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brake lights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle. A secondary offense is one for which a summons can only be issued if the offender is stopped for another, separate offense. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully search or seize any person, place, or thing during a traffic stop solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The bill prohibits the enactment of a local ordinance establishing a primary offense when the corresponding provision in the Code of Virginia is a secondary offense. The bill prohibits any local ordinance relating to the ownership or maintenance of a motor vehicle from being cause to stop or arrest a driver of a motor vehicle unless such violation is a jailable offense. The bill prohibits a law-enforcement officer from issuing a citation for jaywalking or entering a highway where the pedestrian cannot be seen unless the pedestrian is also stopped for another, separate offense. The bill provides that law-enforcement officers are not permitted to stop a motor vehicle for an expired safety inspection or registration sticker until the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date. The bill also provides that no evidence discovered or obtained due to an impermissible stop is admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.
11/09/20 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 51 (Per article IV, Section 13, this bill will be effective on the 1st day of the 4th month following the month of adjournment, sine die, of this special session)
Chief patron: Sen Richard Stuart R-28
Senate patrons: Sen Adam Ebbin D-30, Sen Jeremy McPike D-29, Sen Joseph Morrissey D-16
House patron: Del Mark Cole R-88
Possession of marijuana; prepay penalty. Provides that a summons for a violation of possession of marijuana shall contain the option for the person charged to prepay the civil penalty.
10/13/20 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0003)
SUCCEEDED: SB 5029 Marijuana and certain traffic infractions; possession, issuing citations.
Chief patron: Sen Louise Lucas D-18
Senate patrons: Sen Jennifer Boysko D-33, Sen Creigh Deeds D-25, Sen Adam Ebbin D-30, Sen Barbara Favola D-31, Sen Ghazala Hashmi D-10, Sen Janet Howell D-32, Sen Mamie Locke D-2, Sen Jennifer McClellan D-9, Sen Jeremy McPike D-29, Sen Joseph Morrissey D-16, Sen Scott Surovell D-36
House patrons: Del Dawn Adams D-68, Del Lashrecse Aird D-63, Del Hala Ayala D-51, Del Lamont Bagby D-74, Del Jeffrey Bourne D-71, Del Betsy Carr D-69, Del Joshua Cole D-28, Del Mark Cole R-88, Del Cliff Hayes D-77, Del Charniele Herring D-46, Del Patrick Hope D-47, Del Chris Hurst D-12, Del Clinton Jenkins D-76, Del Kaye Kory D-38, Del Delores McQuinn D-70, Del Cia Price D-95, Del Sam Rasoul D-11, Del Ibraheem Samirah D-86, Del Don Scott D-80, Del Shelly Simonds D-94, Del Roslyn Tyler D-75
Issuing citations; possession of marijuana and certain traffic infractions. Changes from primary offenses to secondary offenses the possession of marijuana and the traffic infractions of operating a motor vehicle (i) without a light illuminating a license plate, (ii) without an exhaust system that prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (iii) with certain sun-shading materials and tinting films, and (iv) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle. A secondary offense is one for which a summons can only be issued if the offender is stopped for another, separate offense. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer may lawfully search or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana, and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.
11/09/20 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 51 (Per article IV, Section 13, this bill will be effective on the 1st day of the 4th month following the month of adjournment, sine die, of this special session)
Expungement
LEFT IN COMMITTEE: HB 5146 Criminal Records; automatic expungement for certain convictions, etc.
Chief Patron: Del Charniele Herring D-46
Chief Co-Patrons: Del Joshua Cole D-28, Del Marcus Simon D-53
House patrons: Del Dawn Adams D-68, Del Lamont Bagby D-74, Del Betsy Carr D-69, Del Eileen Filler-Corn D-41, Del Elizabeth Guzman D-31, Del Dan Helmer D-40, Del Patrick Hope D-47, Del Jay Jones D-89, Del Kaye Kory D-38, Del Mark Levine D-45, Del Sam Rasoul D-11, Del Don Scott D-80, Del Shelly Simonds D-94, Del Suhas Subramanyam D-87, Del Kathy Tran D-42, Del Rodney Willet D-73
Senate Patron: Sen Louise Lucas D-18
Automatic expungement of criminal records. Establishes a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for certain convictions, deferred dispositions, acquittals, and for offenses that have been nolle prossed or otherwise dismissed. The bill also provides a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for charges arising from mistaken identity or the unauthorized use of identifying information. The bill has staggered delayed effective dates in order to develop systems for implementing the provisions of the bill. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.
10/07/20 House: Conferees appointed by House, Delegates Herring, Mullin, Campbell, J.L.
INCORPORATED: SB 5006 Police and court records; expungement of certain records, pardons.
Chief patron: Sen Thomas Norment R-3
Chief co-patron: Sen David Suetterlein R-19
Senate patron: Sen Joseph Morrissey D-16
House patron: Del Mark Cole R-88
Expungement of police and court records; pardons. Allows a person to petition for the expungement of the police and court records relating to such person's conviction for misdemeanors and certain felonies if he has been granted a simple pardon for the crime. Under current law, police and court records relating to convictions are only expunged if a person received an absolute pardon for a crime he did not commit.
08/20/20 Senate: Incorporated by Judiciary (SB5043-Deeds) (14-Y 0-N)
Chief patron: Sen Creigh Deeds D-25
Incorporated chief co-patrons: Sen Ryan McDougle R-4, Sen Thomas Norment R-3, Sen Mark Peake R-22
Senate patrons: Sen Jennifer Boysko D-33, Sen Adam Ebbin D-30, Sen Barbara Favola D-31, Sen Ghazala Hashmi D-10, Sen Janet Howell D-32, Sen Mamie Locke D-2, Sen Louise Lucas D-18, Sen Jennifer McClellan D-9, Sen Jeremy McPike D-29, Sen Joseph Morrissey D-16, Sen Frank Ruff R-15, Sen David Suetterlein R-19, Sen Scott Surovell D-36
House patron: Del Kaye Kory D-38, Del Rodney Willet D-73
Expungement of police and court records. Provides that final disposition may include (i) conviction of the original charge, (ii) conviction of an alternative charge, or (iii) dismissal of the proceedings. The bill also allows a person to petition for the expungement of the police and court records relating to such person's conviction for misdemeanors and certain felonies if he has been granted a simple pardon for the crime. The bill also allows a person to petition for an expungement of the police and court records relating to convictions of marijuana possession, underage alcohol or tobacco possession, and using a false ID to obtain alcohol, and for deferred disposition dismissals for possession of controlled substances or marijuana, underage alcohol or tobacco possession, and using a false ID to obtain alcohol, when all court costs, fines, and restitution have been paid and five years have elapsed since the date of completion of all terms of sentencing and probation. Under current law, police and court records relating to convictions are only expunged if a person received an absolute pardon for a crime he did not commit.
10/07/20 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate, Senators Deeds, Lucas, Norment
LEFT IN COMMITTEE: HB 5141 Marijuana; legalizes simple possession, etc.
Chief Patron: Del Jennifer Carroll Foy D-2
Chief Co-Patron: Del Sally L. Hudson D-57
Possession of marijuana. Legalizes simple possession of marijuana. Current law provides a civil penalty of no more than $25 for the simple possession of marijuana. The bill also provides that simple possession of marijuana or its use by a child younger than 18 years of age may constitute conduct that presents a serious threat to the well-being of a child for the purposes of defining a "child in need of services." The bill also prohibits any law-enforcement officer from lawfully searching or seizing any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana and states that no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. Additionally, the bill allows a person to petition for expungement of convictions, adjudications, and deferred disposition dismissals for marijuana possession when all court costs and fines and orders of restitution have been paid. The bill also removes marijuana paraphernalia from the definition of drug paraphernalia and eliminates the criminal penalty for the sale of or possession with the intent to sell such paraphernalia. The bill contains technical amendments.
08/26/20 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice