VirginiaHB1242026 Regular SessionHouse

Assault and battery; adds district court temporary recall judge, penalty.

Sponsored By: Atoosa R. Reaser (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Assault and battery; district court temporary recall judge; penalty. Adds a judge of a district court under temporary recall to the definition of "judge" as it relates to the crime of assault and battery, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor that is enhanced to a Class 6 felony with a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months if such judge is engaged in his public duties at the time of the offense. This bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts and is identical to SB 144.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger penalties for hate-based assaults

Beginning April 6, 2026, bias-based simple assault carries at least six months in jail. Bias-based means the victim was chosen for race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. If the assault causes bodily injury, it is a Class 6 felony and also requires at least six months in jail.

Tougher penalties for assaults on officials

Beginning April 6, 2026, assaulting a judge, magistrate, police officer, correctional officer, firefighter, or EMS worker doing public duties is a Class 6 felony. A conviction includes at least six months in jail. The law also says “judge” includes district court judges, including temporary recall and substitute judges, so they receive the same protection.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Atoosa R. Reaser

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 233 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations Block Vote

Yes: 13 • 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 Courts of Justice

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/11/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0071)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 71 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB124)

    3/5/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB124ER)

    3/4/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/4/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/4/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/4/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/27/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/26/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/26/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations Block Vote (13-Y 0-N)

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/18/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    2/16/2026House
  21. Read first time

    2/15/2026House
  22. Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)

    2/13/2026House
  23. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

    2/11/2026House
  24. Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

    2/10/2026House
  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB124)

    1/20/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation