# Virginia HB172: Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain range of punishment, etc.

Virginia HB172, Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain range of punishment, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Leslie Chambers Mehta (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB172-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB172
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain range of punishment, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Leslie Chambers Mehta (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (302 yes, 157 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain punishment. Provides that an accused may withdraw a request for a jury to ascertain punishment up until the commencement of the sentencing proceeding. The bill also provides that counsel for either party shall have the right to examine jurors regarding the potential punishment, or range or ranges of punishment, regardless of whether the jury will ascertain punishment and that the court or counsel for either party may inform any person or juror during voir dire as to the potential punishment, or range or ranges of punishment, to ascertain if the person or juror can sit impartially in the guilt or sentencing phase of the case. Current law provides that the court or counsel for either party may inform any person or juror during voir dire as to the potential range of punishment to ascertain if the person or juror can sit impartially in the sentencing phase of the case.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More jury options for Virginia defendants: benefit, low. The law requires reenactment by Virginia's 2027 Session before these changes take effect. It allows defendants facing jury trials to request jury sentencing in writing at least 30 days before trial. Defendants can withdraw that request until sentencing begins. Courts and lawyers can tell prospectiv…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Leslie Chambers Mehta (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 63 | 36 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Senate amendments agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 34 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 63 | 34 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (44)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1036) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB172ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor - Chapter 1036 (effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB172) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB172ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate amendments agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB172) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26106766D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-30: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB172) (House)
- 2026-01-06: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103279D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225173.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225172.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219894.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219893.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219123.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213364.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213363.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205998.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202063.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199457.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127429.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127428.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104809.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105256.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105255.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082704.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082703.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225173.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225172.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219894.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219893.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219123.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213364.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213363.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205998.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202063.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199457.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127429.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127428.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104809.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105256.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105255.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082704.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082703.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [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-HB172-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).