Be On The Record
BlogSign inSubscribe
HearingsBillsAlerts
← Hearings

Courts Of Justice

Wednesday, January 28, 2026·57m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Courts of Justice Committee advanced a sweeping slate of criminal justice and civil reform bills, including contested measures to modify marijuana sentences, expand earned sentence credits, create Virginia's first class-action procedure, and mandate law enforcement duty-to-render-aid — while passing several fines/fees reform bills to Appropriations and deferring one bill the chair had personally voted against in subcommittee.

Key Actions

·HB 449 – Class Actions & VCPA DamagesNo Vote

+ 13 more actions

Controversies

HB 449 – Class action bill reconsideration and vote shift

The bill passed 15–3 on an initial electronic roll call, then an unidentified member who voted on the prevailing side moved to reconsider. The motion passed by voice vote and on reconsideration the bill passed 14–5, a less favorable outcome. The identity of the mover and the reason for reconsideration were not stated on the record.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“January 1, 2027. Subcommittee recommended reporting by a vote of seven to three. An ISO move got a motion and properly second to report the second substitute. House Bill 449. Delegate Sullivan, you're recognized. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to vote for this bill as I did”

Delegate Sullivan — Sullivan explained his vote in favor of HB 449, which would establish Virginia's first class-action procedure and apply it to Virginia Consumer Protection Act claims.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 449 with substitute (vote on reconsideration)Passed
Report HB 221 as amendedPassed
Report HB 273Passed
Report HB 244 as amendedPassed
Yes (8)Simon, Watts, Maldonado, Colson, Mehta, Carnegie, Thornton, Hope
No (1)Pence
Report HB 361 as amended and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Yes (12)Simon, Watts, Sullivan, Delaney, Maldonado, Hernandez, Cousins, Colson, Schmidt, Mehta, Thornton, Hope
No (2)Davis, Whittle
Report HB 350 with substitutePassed
Report HB 803 with substitutePassed
Unlock the full summary

Subscribe to see all key actions, controversies, quotes, and what's next.

Sign in to subscribe
TranscriptPreview
Courts of justice committee will now come to order. I turn to the clerk and to please call the roll. Delegate Simon. Here. Delegate Watts. Here. Delegate Sullivan. Here. Delegate Delaney. Here. Delegate Maldonado. Delegate Hernandez. Here. Delegate Cousins. Here. Delegate Reaser. Delegate Colson. Here. Delegate Keez. Gamara. Delegate Schmidt. Delegate Meda. Delegate Carnegie. Here. Delegate Thornton. Here. Delegate Kilgore. Delegate Leftwich. Delegate Ballard. Delegate Williams. Delegate Williams. Delegate Davis. Delegate Whittle. Delegate Pence. We have a quorum, Mr. Chair. All right. And I'm here. Okay, so why don't we go ahead and get started with some administrative actions. The first order of business is to I need a motion to strike at the request of the patron. House Bill 745 by Delegate Williams. Can I get a motion? Got a motion. And Delegate Simon seconds. All in favor say. Oh, we got to call the roll. We have to call the roll. So clerk will please open the roll. Okay. Delegates Simon. Aye. Delegates Watts. Sullivan, Delaney. Aye. Maldonado, Aye. Hernandez. Aye. Cousins. Aye. Reeser, Colson. Aye. Keez, Gamara. Schmidt. Mehta. Carnegie, Thornton. Aye. Kilgore, Leftwich, Ballard, Williams. Davis. Whittle, Pence. Chair. Aye. The bill is stricken. All right,…
Continue reading

Subscribe to unlock the full transcript, summary, and search across all Virginia committee hearings.

Sign in to subscribe