# Virginia HB2296: Illegal fentanyl; reckless exposure to certain persons, penalty

Virginia HB2296, Illegal fentanyl; reckless exposure to certain persons, penalty, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mark L. Earley, Jr. (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-HB2296-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2296
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Illegal fentanyl; reckless exposure to certain persons, penalty
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Mark L. Earley, Jr. (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Reckless exposure of illegal fentanyl to certain persons; penalty; arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting overdoses. Provides that any person who unlawfully possesses fentanyl, including its isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, and recklessly exposes a law-enforcement officer, correctional officer, jail officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, as those terms are defined in relevant law, to such fentanyl and causes severe bodily injury or an overdose to such officer, firefighter, or personnel is guilty of a Class 4 felony. The bill also provides that no individual incarcerated in a local, regional, or state correctional facility shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for such offense if such individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself or another individual experiencing an overdose or is experiencing an overdose and another individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for him.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mark L. Earley, Jr. (Republican), House

## Actions (6)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-28: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-01-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2296) (House)
- 2025-01-09: Impact statement from VCSC (HB2296) (House)
- 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100982D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015797.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015796.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/1015797.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015796.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-HB2296-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).