Robbery; conforms certain provisions of Code to degrees of robbery offenses.
Sponsored By: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)
In Committee
Summary
Robbery. Conforms certain provisions of the Code referencing robbery to the degrees of robbery offenses established by Chapter 534 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I. These changes include: (i) limiting to the three higher degrees of robbery certain non-robbery crimes for which committing such crime with the intent to commit a robbery is an element of the offenses, (ii) limiting the types of robbery that are included in the definition of "acts of violence" to the two higher degrees of robbery, (iii) clarifying how robbery offenses will be scored on the sentencing guidelines, (iv) allowing persons convicted of the two lesser degrees of robbery to be eligible for conditional release if they are terminally ill and for enhanced earned sentence credits, (v) allowing persons who are ineligible for parole as a result of being convicted of three of certain enumerated offenses to be eligible for parole if convicted of an offense that would constitute robbery by presenting of firearms, and (vi) limiting the application of the three-strikes law to the two higher degrees of robbery and making persons convicted under the three-strikes law eligible for parole if one of the three convictions resulting in the mandatory life sentence would constitute one of the two lesser degrees of robbery. The bill leaves unchanged the current law making all degrees of robbery predicate criminal acts by adding the two lesser degrees of robbery to the definition of "predicate criminal act" and specifying that the two higher degrees of robbery are included in the definition of "act of violence." The bill requires the changes made to the eligibility for conditional release of terminally ill prisoners and enhanced earned sentence credits to apply retroactively if certain criteria are met.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Vivian E. Watts
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Continued from last session
7/21/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
3/9/2026SenateSenate committee offered
3/9/2026SenateContinued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
3/9/2026SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB244)
3/5/2026HouseCommittee substitute printed 26108969D-S1
3/3/2026SenateReported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
3/2/2026SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB244)
2/11/2026HouseReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2/4/2026SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2/4/2026SenateRead third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
2/3/2026HouseEngrossed by House as amended
2/2/2026Housecommittee amendments agreed to
2/2/2026HouseRead second time
2/2/2026HouseRead first time
1/30/2026HouseReported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (14-Y 6-N)
1/28/2026HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N)
1/23/2026HouseHouse subcommittee offered
1/23/2026HouseAssigned HCJ sub: Criminal
1/20/2026HouseReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
1/8/2026HousePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102503D
1/8/2026House
Bill Text
Substitute
3/9/2026
Substitute
3/3/2026
Engrossed
2/2/2026
Amendment
1/29/2026
Introduced
1/8/2026
Related Bills
SR6, Qualifying vehicles, certain; Dept. of Tax. to study options for abolishing personal property tax.
Study; Department of Taxation; options for abolishing the personal property taxation of certain qualifying vehicles; report. Requests the Department of Taxation to study options for abolishing the personal property taxation of certain qualifying vehicles and to evaluate alternative local revenue sources in order to account for the shortfall in local tax revenues that will result from the abolition of such tax.
SJ31, Washington County; DCR to study feasibility of establishing a state park in Holston River watershed.
Study; Department of Conservation and Recreation; state park in Washington County; report. Requests the Department of Conservation and Recreation to study the feasibility of establishing a state park in Washington County at the Mendota Trail and Abrams Falls located within the Holston River Watershed.
SB833, Open containers; prohibition on consumption and possession in the passenger area of motor vehicles.
Open containers; prohibition on consumption and possession in the passenger area of motor vehicles.
SB831, Challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify, civil penalty.
Elections; challenges of qualified voters; duty of local electoral board to certify; civil penalty. Provides that the certification of the results of an election is a clear ministerial duty of the local electoral boards and that a member of the local electoral board who neglects or refuses to perform such duty in accordance with law shall be subject to removal proceedings by the State Board of Elections and assessed a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000. The bill also authorizes the State Board of Elections to intervene and carry out the duties related to election certification in the event a local electoral board fails or refuses to do so. Additionally, the bill prohibits challenges to a voter's qualification to vote from any person who is not an officer of election.
SB829, Real property tax bills; disclosure, resource protection area.
Real property tax bills; disclosure; resource protection area.
SB821, Kratom; Virginia State Crime Commission to conduct an analysis of enforcement & regulation, report.
Virginia State Crime Commission; kratom regulation and enforcement; report.