# Virginia HB247: Deferred dispos. in criminal case; persons with autism, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

Virginia HB247, Deferred dispos. in criminal case; persons with autism, intellectual, or developmental disabilities., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Vivian E. Watts (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0960)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB247-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB247
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Deferred dispos. in criminal case; persons with autism, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0960)
- Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (246 yes, 98 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Deferred disposition in a criminal case; persons with autism, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities; expungement. Adds developmental disabilities to the autism and intellectual disability deferred disposition statute. The bill also provides that when a court defers and dismisses a charge pursuant to the autism, intellectual disability, or developmental disability deferred disposition statute, such charge may be considered as otherwise dismissed for purposes of expungement of police and court records. The bill also (i) clarifies that the defendant may request a hearing to determine the appropriateness of a deferred disposition at any time before or after any plea and (ii) provides that no statement made by the defendant at such a hearing is admissible in any criminal proceeding, except that any such statement made under oath may be admissible in a criminal proceeding for perjury or for purposes of impeachment in a criminal matter. This bill is identical to SB 416.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Record clearing and statement protections: benefit, low. If your charge is dismissed under this law, it counts as a dismissal for expungement. That can make your police and court records eligible for expungement under § 19.2-392.2. Statements you make at an eligibility hearing or during exams are not admissible in criminal cases. Two narrow exceptions ap…
- Serious violent crimes excluded: cost, low. This option is not available for a violation of § 18.2-31 (capital murder). It is also barred for acts of violence defined in § 19.2-297.1. It does not apply when another statute already allows deferred disposition for that crime, except § 19.2-298.02.
- Deferred probation for defendants with disabilities: mixed, low. Courts can pause a criminal case for a person diagnosed with autism or an intellectual or developmental disability. The judge must find clear and convincing evidence the conduct was caused by or closely tied to the condition. You must consent, and the court considers the prosecutor and the victim.…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 33 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 32 | 8 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 10 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 59 | 36 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations | pass | 8 | 2 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0960) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 960 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB247) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB247ER) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-27: Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Passed Senate with substitute (32-Y 8-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Committee substitute printed 26108374D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB247) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed House (59-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-12: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB247) (House)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102493D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224753.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224752.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191275.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191274.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177620.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171775.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171774.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177619.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138364.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138363.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128209.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128675.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108031.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108104.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083252.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083251.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224753.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224752.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191275.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191274.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177620.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171775.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171774.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177619.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138364.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138363.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128209.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128675.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108031.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108104.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083252.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083251.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB247-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).