VirginiaHB10302026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Parole; discretionary criteria guidelines, delayed effective date.

Sponsored By: Tony O. Wilt (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Discretionary parole eligibility guidelines. Requires the Virginia Parole Board to complete discretionary parole criteria guidelines, described in the bill, for each prisoner eligible for parole.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Parole scoring and review rights

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Parole Board uses a points worksheet with tiered scores to guide parole decisions. You get the worksheet before the hearing and can contest errors; valid fixes are made before the vote. The Board must give written reasons for denials and for any decision that departs from a Tier 1 or Tier 3 recommendation. Reviews must use pre‑release investigation records, and rules must weigh rehabilitation, education, prosocial behavior, and family and community supports.

Regular parole reviews and early looks

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Board reviews each case by the time of eligibility and at least yearly. If 10 or more years or life remain, the next review can be up to three years later. A live interview is required before granting parole, except for imminent death or extraordinary circumstances. The DOC Director may recommend early review, but no one is released early until serving at least one‑fourth of the sentence, or 12 years if one‑fourth is over 12 years, and meeting the criteria. After revocation and return, the Board reviews the case within one year.

Release timing and advance notices

Beginning July 1, 2027, when parole is granted, DOC sets the release date at least 30 business days after the Board’s notice, except some conditional releases. For felonies with 10 or more years or for conditional release, prosecutors get at least 21 business days’ electronic notice; imminent‑death conditional releases can be notified by phone or electronic means before release. The Board must notify DOC of grants. The Board may release directly from a local jail if the person had an exam in the past year and needed no medical or psychiatric treatment in that year.

Pre-release transition help for inmates

Beginning July 1, 2027, DOC offers a transition program to people sentenced to at least three years who are within six months of parole or mandatory release. The program gives job‑training advice, tips for living lawfully, and financial literacy. The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security sets the program rules.

Clemency investigations at Governor request

Beginning July 1, 2027, when the Governor asks, the Parole Board investigates and reports on commutation, pardon, reprieve, or fine‑remission requests to help the Governor decide.

Monthly and yearly parole reports

Beginning July 1, 2027, by the 15th of each month, the Board publishes last month’s parole actions with names, offenses, sentences, time served, reasons, and votes. For people granted parole, the item appears the month after attorneys and victims are notified. Each year, the Board also publishes a report that compiles the monthly lists and totals how many were considered, granted, or denied, and the most common reasons.

Parole rules for juvenile offenders

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Board adopts rules, with the Governor’s approval, that consider maturity, rehabilitation, and juveniles’ lesser culpability for those eligible for juvenile‑parole review.

Victims get notice and a voice

Beginning July 1, 2027, final parole votes happen in a public meeting. Prisoners or their lawyers can attend; victims can attend or send written, recorded, or phone testimony. Victims who ask for notice get eligibility dates, interview dates, and decisions; if parole seems likely, they have 45 days to speak. The Board must share case information with the prisoner but must remove victim personal details and bar further sharing.

Follow treatment plan on parole

Beginning July 1, 2027, if you were committed under Chapter 9 of Title 37.2 and are released on parole, you must follow all DBHDS conditions and your treatment plan as a condition of parole.

Stronger parole oversight and discharges

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Parole Board can revoke parole for violations and return a person to prison or require community‑based programs. The Board may grant final discharges when appropriate; early final discharges need a majority vote. Each year, the Board publishes details on final discharges, including names, offenses, sentences, time on parole, reasons, and member votes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tony O. Wilt

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 449 • No: 7

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 32 • No: 7

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Public Safety with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (32-Y 7-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (100-Y 0-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1085)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (HB1030ER2)

    4/22/2026House
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026House
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1085 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/22/2026Governor
  7. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  9. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  10. Governor's recommendation received by House

    4/12/2026Governor
  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1030)

    4/1/2026House
  12. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  13. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  14. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  15. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1030ER)

    3/30/2026House
  16. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  17. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  18. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  19. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  20. Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  21. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/10/2026Senate
  22. Read third time

    3/10/2026Senate
  23. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/9/2026Senate
  24. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1030)

    3/9/2026House

Bill Text

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