# Virginia HB295: Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment.

Virginia HB295, Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mitchell Cornett (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-02-25 (Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (7-Y 8-N)) (as of 2026-11-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB295-2026
- As of: 2026-11-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB295
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-09
- Last action: 2026-02-25, Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (7-Y 8-N)
- Sponsor: Mitchell Cornett (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Aggravated murder defined; correctional officers; punishment. Adds to the definition of aggravated murder, which is a Class 1 felony, the willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of a correctional officer, defined in relevant law, when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties. The bill also provides that where the offender was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense, the punishment shall be no less than a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mitchell Cornett (Republican), House

## Actions (14)

- 2026-02-25: Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (7-Y 8-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (87-Y 7-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-15: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Reported from Courts of Justice (13-Y 8-N) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-07: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB295) (House)
- 2026-01-15: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/15/2026 1:16 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-12: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:03 am) (House)
- 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103862D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083451.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083450.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. (signed)
- 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)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083451.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083450.PDF)

## Related
- [HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB20-2026)
- [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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB295-2026 (as of 2026-11-06).