# Virginia HB1780: Relief; Merritt, Gilbert, III, compensation for wrongful incarceration.

Virginia HB1780, Relief; Merritt, Gilbert, III, compensation for wrongful incarceration., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0482)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1780-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1780
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Relief; Merritt, Gilbert, III, compensation for wrongful incarceration.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0482)
- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (217 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Claims; Gilbert Merritt III; compensation for wrongful incarceration. Grants relief in an amount to be appropriated to Gilbert Merritt III, who was wrongly convicted of and subsequently incarcerated for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-14 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 36 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2025-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (26)

- 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0482) (Governor)
- 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 482 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025 (House)
- 2025-02-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1780) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1780ER) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-02-19: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-14: Passed Senate Block Vote (36-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (99-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2025-01-31: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Appropriations (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1780) (House)
- 2025-01-11: Assigned Approps sub: General Government and Capital Outlay (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Appropriations (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103761D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076980.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076979.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054547.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054546.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012856.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012855.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/1076980.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076979.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054547.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054546.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012856.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012855.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1780-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).