# Virginia HB1839: Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing, excluded persons.

Virginia HB1839, Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing, excluded persons., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Delores Oates (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1839-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1839
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing, excluded persons.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Delores Oates (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing; excluded persons. Exempts one person whose presence, in the judgment of the court, would be supportive of the complaining witness and would not impair the conduct of a fair hearing or pose a substantial risk of influencing or affecting the content of the testimony from being excluded from evidentiary hearings for certain prosecutions. The bill provides that if such support person is exempted, the judge shall admonish such support person to not prompt, communicate with, or influence the complaining witness in any way. Lastly, the bill provides that a court may exercise its discretion to remove the support person from the courtroom if it believes such support person is prompting, communicating with, or influencing the complaining witness.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Delores Oates (Republican), House

## Actions (4)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-16: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25100865D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013207.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013206.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013207.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013206.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)
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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1839-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).