# Virginia HB2657: Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses.

Virginia HB2657, Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-05-02 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0719)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2657-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2657
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-15
- Last action: 2025-05-02, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0719)
- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 12 (490 yes, 111 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses. Provides that any person who knowingly, intentionally, and feloniously manufactures, sells, or distributes a controlled substance knowing that such controlled substance contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, and unintentionally causes the death of another person is guilty of involuntary manslaughter if (i) such death results from the use of the controlled substance and (ii) such controlled substance is the proximate cause of the death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of such controlled substance occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred.The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed such controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is not guilty of involuntary manslaughter but is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This bill is identical to SB 746.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | House | Passed by for the day Block Vote | pass | 47 | 46 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 93 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 35 | 4 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 46 | 51 |   |
| 2025-02-18 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 39 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Passage | pass | 98 | 1 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 18 | 4 |   |
| 2025-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 6 | 2 | 1 |

## Actions (64)

- 2025-05-02: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0719) (Governor)
- 2025-05-02: Approved by Governor-Chapter 719 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (47-Y 46-N) (House)
- 2025-03-31: Impact statement from VCSC (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's substitute printed (HB2657H3) (House)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House)
- 2025-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2657ER) (House)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-02-27: Impact statement from VCSC (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by Senate (35-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Amended by conference committee
- 2025-02-21: Conference substitute printed 25107968D-H2 (House)
- 2025-02-21: Amended by conference committee
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-02-20: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Senators: Surovell, Perry, McDougle (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Delegates: Thomas, Delaney, Ballard (House)
- 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2025-02-20: House acceded to request (House)
- 2025-02-20: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Senate substitute rejected by House (46-Y 51-N) (House)
- 2025-02-18: Passed Senate with substitute (39-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Impact statement from VCSC (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Committee substitute printed 25107131D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House Passage (98-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-03: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-01-31: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-30: Impact statement from VCSC (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Committee substitute printed 25106259D-H1 (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (18-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2025-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (6-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2025-01-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-01-25: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-01-24: Impact statement from VCSC (HB2657) (House)
- 2025-01-15: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-15: Presented and ordered printed 25104671D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079956.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079955.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-03-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074498.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074497.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073766.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068901.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068900.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2025-02-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066827.HTML)
- Substitute, 2025-02-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066830.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066829.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046078.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046077.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045599.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045598.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031285.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031284.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030515.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030514.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020610.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020609.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/1079956.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079955.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074498.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074497.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073766.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068901.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068900.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066827.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066830.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066829.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046078.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046077.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045599.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045598.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031285.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031284.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030515.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030514.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020610.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1020609.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-HB2657-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).