# Virginia HB1388: Police chiefs; creates independent protections and procedures.

Virginia HB1388, Police chiefs; creates independent protections and procedures., is a 2027 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mike A. Cherry (Republican); status in committee, last action 2026-07-21 (Continued from last session) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1388-2027
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1388
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Police chiefs; creates independent protections and procedures.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-21
- Last action: 2026-07-21, Continued from last session
- Sponsor: Mike A. Cherry (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Subcommittee #2
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Police Chief Bill of Rights. Creates independent protections and procedures for certain chiefs of police, defined in the bill, by requiring a showing of just cause when a chief of police is proposed for removal from office. The bill requires that a police chief be given written notice of the specific grounds for his proposed removal and that such police chief be afforded an opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally and with counsel, before an impartial hearing panel.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike A. Cherry (Republican), House

## Actions (7)

- 2026-07-21: Continued from last session (House)
- 2026-02-13: Continued to 2027 in Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-12: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-12: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2028 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-21: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-21: Presented and ordered printed 26105475D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20271/HB1388)
- Introduced, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230570.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230569.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report. (in committee)
- HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements. (introduced)
- HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information. (introduced)
- SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset. (in committee)
- SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment. (in committee)
- SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion State Prison. (in committee)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20271/HB1388)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230570.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230569.PDF)

## Related
- [SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB844-2027)
- [HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1535-2027)
- [HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1534-2027)
- [SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB843-2027)
- [SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB842-2027)
- [SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion Sta…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB840-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1388-2027 (as of 2026-10-11).