# Virginia HB2222: Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions.

Virginia HB2222, Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0454)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2222-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2222
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0454)
- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (217 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Use of restraints on juveniles in court prohibited; exceptions. Prohibits the use of instruments of restraint, as defined in the bill, on a juvenile appearing before the juvenile and domestic relations district court unless, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth or on the court's own motion sua sponte, the court makes a finding that (i) the use of such restraints is necessary (a) to prevent physical harm to such juvenile or another person, (b) because such juvenile has a history of disruptive courtroom behavior that has placed others in potentially harmful situations or presents a substantial threat of serious harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior, or (c) because such juvenile presents a substantial risk of flight from the courtroom and (ii) there are no less restrictive alternatives to such restraints that will prevent flight of or harm to such juvenile or another person, including court personnel or law-enforcement officers. The bill provides that the juvenile shall be entitled to an attorney prior to a hearing on the use of instruments of restraint. The bill also requires the court to provide the juvenile's attorney an opportunity to be heard before the court orders the use of instruments of restraint, and the juvenile's attorney may waive the juvenile's appearance at such hearing. Lastly, the bill requires the court, if such restraints are ordered, to communicate to the parties the basis of the decision either orally or in writing. This bill is identical to SB 1255.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 37 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-30 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-20 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (29)

- 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0454) (Governor)
- 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 454 (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)
- 2025-02-20: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2222) (House)
- 2025-02-17: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2222ER) (House)
- 2025-02-17: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-02-17: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-12: Passed Senate (37-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2222) (House)
- 2025-01-30: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-01-29: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-01-29: Read second time (House)
- 2025-01-28: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-24: Committee substitute printed 25105547D-H1 (House)
- 2025-01-24: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-20: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-18: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100250D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076972.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076971.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050245.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050244.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024324.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024323.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015602.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015601.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/1076972.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076971.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050245.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050244.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024324.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024323.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015602.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015601.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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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2222-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).