VirginiaHB2732026 Regular SessionHouse

Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb, civil immunity.

Sponsored By: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb; civil immunity. Provides that a law-enforcement officer, while engaged in the performance of his duties, has a duty to render aid to any person that he observes suffering from a serious bodily injury or life-threatening condition, as circumstances objectively permit and provided that such aid may be rendered without endangering the law-enforcement officer, the person, or others. The bill also immunizes a law-enforcement officer from civil liability for any personal injury or wrongful death resulting from such rendering or withholding of such aid absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. The bill directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to adopt regulations to provide law-enforcement officers with basic medical training, including emergency first aid training.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Lawsuit shield for officers giving aid

Officers are protected from civil lawsuits over giving or not giving aid under this law. This protection does not apply if the officer is grossly negligent or acts with willful misconduct. Immunity applies only when the aid decision follows this section’s rules.

Police must give emergency aid

Law-enforcement officers must give aid when they see someone with a serious injury or life-threatening condition. They must help only when it can be done safely and the situation allows it. The Department of Criminal Justice Services sets minimum medical and first-aid training standards for officers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dan I. Helmer

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 217 • No: 101

House vote 3/12/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 62 • No: 35

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 9 • No: 4

House vote 2/3/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 64 • No: 34

House vote 1/28/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 14 • No: 6

House vote 1/26/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0583)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 583 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB273)

    4/1/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB273ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026Senate
  12. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

    3/11/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/11/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/11/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/10/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB273)

    3/10/2026House
  18. Rules suspended

    3/10/2026Senate
  19. Committee substitute printed 26109443D-S1

    3/9/2026Senate
  20. Senate committee offered

    3/9/2026Senate
  21. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 4-N)

    3/9/2026Senate
  22. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/4/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/4/2026Senate
  24. Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

    2/3/2026House
  25. Read second time and engrossed

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

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