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Criminal Subcommittee

Monday, January 26, 2026·1h 0m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Criminal Law Subcommittee advanced four bills unanimously, including measures addressing juvenile truancy penalties, child sexual exploitation device destruction, and criminal justice data sharing, while tabling a contested insurance fraud civil penalty bill that drew opposition from counsel, committee members, and an industry group over concerns that existing law already covers the conduct.

Key Actions

·HB 123 – Juvenile Truancy Driving Privilege LossNo Vote

+ 1 more action

Controversies

Whether Virginia law already criminalizes the insurance fraud conduct targeted by HB 1335

Delegate Wyatt claimed Virginia is one of the two states that really specifically doesn't address insurance fraud, but the chair countered by citing code section 18.2-178 in Title 52, which makes it a Class 4 felony to obtain money by false pretense and is tied directly to the insurance fraud section of the code. Counsel Troy further stated the conduct in the bill is likely covered by obtaining money by false pretenses, and that if money is not actually obtained, attempt or conspiracy charges could apply. Wyatt did not directly rebut these points, instead stating the bill was brought to him by families in his district.

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Currently for children who are under age 16 and 3 months, this penalty can delay when they apply for a learner's permit or a driver's license at a time when that training and the hours for training are most crucial.”

Delegate Rezer — Delegate Rezer, the sponsor of HB 123, was arguing that the mandatory 30-day driving privilege loss for juvenile truancy is harmful because it delays permit and license applications during the period when training hours are most important.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Motion to report HB 123Passed
Motion to incorporate HB 274 and HB 688 into HB 148Passed
Motion to adopt amendment to HB 148 (line 21, 'if the forfeiture is established' language)Passed
Motion to report HB 148 with substitute as amendedPassed
Motion to adopt amendment to HB 1084 (privacy and FOIA language in subsection F)Passed
Motion to report HB 1084 as amendedPassed
Substitute motion to lay HB 1335 on the tablePassed
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TranscriptPreview
Criminal Law Subcommittee of House Courts will now come to order. Clerk, please open the roll. Members, cast your. Indicate your presence. Please. Close the roll. We have a quorum and the first one on our docket also has a conflict. So I'm delighted to accommodate. House Bill 123 brought to delegate Rezer. Delegate Rezer. Kinda. Is that better? Yes. Thank you. Good afternoon, Madam Chair. This bill comes out of the Joint Senate and House Commission on. I'm sorry, the. The District Courts Commission. This is a bill recommended by the. By the Office of the Executive Secretary. Current law requires judges. It's a mandatory driving Privilege Loss of 30 days for children who have a truancy issue if the child is age 13 or older. And our bill would make this a permissive action for the judge to take. As you may be familiar, most matters relating to juvenile victims or defendants are looked at through a best interest of the child standard. And this would be in more keeping with that. Currently for children who are under age 16 and 3 months, this penalty can delay when they apply for a learner's permit or a driver's license…
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