# Virginia HB1712: Law-enforcement agencies and officers; establishing training curriculum on certain arrests. Virginia HB1712, Law-enforcement agencies and officers; establishing training curriculum on certain arrests., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Vivian E. Watts (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-04-02 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote (40-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1712-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB1712 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Law-enforcement agencies and officers; establishing training curriculum on certain arrests. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-04 - Last action: 2025-04-02, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) - Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 13 (455 yes, 194 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Department of Criminal Justice Services; training curriculum on certain arrests. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a training curriculum for law-enforcement agencies, law-enforcement officers, and special conservators of the peace on the discretion such officers can exercise regarding certain arrests. The bill requires that such training curriculum be created by July 1, 2027, and include (i) instruction on the scope and nature of law-enforcement officer discretion in arrest decisions, with particular emphasis on encounters with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, including individuals currently subject to an emergency custody order, a temporary detention order, or an involuntary admission order, and (ii) instruction on the immediate and long-term effects of arrests on individuals in need of mental health services due to a mental health crisis, including impacts on treatment outcomes as identified in substantially accepted peer-reviewed research literature. The bill requires any person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to July 1, 2027, to review any course material or course criteria related to such curriculum by January 1, 2028, and any person employed as a law-enforcement officer on or after July 1, 2027, to review any course material or course criteria related to such curriculum within one year of his date of hire. Lastly, the bill directs the Criminal Justice Services Board to promulgate regulations pursuant to relevant law requiring special conservators of the peace to review any course material or course criteria related to such curriculum established by the bill by July 1, 2027. The bill requires any person applying for an initial or renewal registration as a special conservator of the peace on or after July 1, 2027 to review any course material or course criteria related to such curriculum as part of his compulsory training standards.As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to SB 1194. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 90 | 5 | | | 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-22 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 60 | 39 | | | 2025-02-22 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-19 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-18 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 2 | 94 | | | 2025-02-17 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-14 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 36 | 0 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 56 | 41 | | | 2025-01-31 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 14 | 8 | | | 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 16 | 6 | | | 2025-01-24 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 1 | 1 | ## Actions (59) - 2025-04-02: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0639) (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Reenrolled bill text (HB1712ER2) (House) - 2025-04-02: Reenrolled (House) - 2025-04-02: Enacted, Chapter 639 (Effective 07/01/25) (House) - 2025-04-02: Signed by President as reenrolled (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled (House) - 2025-04-02: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor) - 2025-04-02: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (90-Y 5-N) (House) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Governor's substitute printed (HB1712H3) (House) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House) - 2025-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1712) (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1712ER) (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1712) (House) - 2025-02-22: Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-22: Conference substitute printed 25108053D-H2 (House) - 2025-02-22: Amended by conference committee - 2025-02-22: Conference report agreed to by House (60-Y 39-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Senators: Deeds, Perry, Stanley (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Delegates: Watts, Hope, Hodges (House) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2025-02-20: House acceded to request (House) - 2025-02-19: Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2025-02-18: Senate substitute rejected by House (2-Y 94-N) (House) - 2025-02-17: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1712) (House) - 2025-02-17: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Committee substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Reading of substitute waived (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (36-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Committee substitute printed 25107341D-S1 (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (56-Y 41-N) (House) - 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2025-02-03: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (House) - 2025-02-03: Read second time (House) - 2025-02-02: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-31: Reported from Appropriations (14-Y 8-N) (House) - 2025-01-30: Assigned Approps sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House) - 2025-01-29: Committee substitute printed 25106008D-H1 (House) - 2025-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1712) (House) - 2025-01-29: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 6-N) (House) - 2025-01-24: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N) (House) - 2025-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1712) (House) - 2025-01-21: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House) - 2025-01-04: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House) - 2025-01-04: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103602D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079152.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079151.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075007.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075006.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-03-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074546.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074545.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073592.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069096.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069095.PDF) - Conference Report, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067757.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067764.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067763.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050321.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050320.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029134.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029133.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012722.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012721.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079152.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079151.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075007.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075006.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074546.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074545.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073592.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069096.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069095.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067757.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067764.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067763.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050321.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050320.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029134.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029133.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012722.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012721.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1712-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).