VirginiaHB3182026 Regular SessionHouse

Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations.

Sponsored By: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties; juvenile offenders; parole procedures and considerations. Increases the members of the Virginia Parole Board (the Board) from up to five to at least 11 members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor within 60 days of inauguration, three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates within 60 days of a new House being sworn in during a Senate election year, and three of whom shall be appointed by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules within 60 days of a new Senate being sworn in after an election, and all of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, if in session when such appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. The bill specifies that all members of the Board shall have significant professional experience working in criminal law, corrections, reentry and community services, or victim services and that the Board members appointed by the Governor shall include (i) an attorney with significant experience in criminal prosecution; (ii) an attorney with significant experience in criminal defense; (iii) a qualified mental health professional with relevant background in adolescent development, trauma responses, psychology, and decision-making; and (iv) a representative of a crime victims organization or a victim of crime. These provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2028.The bill also requires the Board to provide a meaningful opportunity for release to certain juvenile offenders eligible for parole and specifies various factors the Board shall give substantial weight to when making a determination on whether to grant parole to such juvenile offender. The bill allows a juvenile offender to request for reconsideration or appeal of a decision by the Board not to grant parole based on (a) the Board's failure to give substantial weight to such juvenile offender's age and its related mitigating circumstances as required by the bill or (b) the Board's overreliance on static factors such as the nature and circumstances of the offense and failure to ground its decision in evidence of maturity, rehabilitation, and a lack of present danger to public safety. The bill requires the Board to provide individualized reasons for the grant or denial of parole upon reconsideration or appeal.The bill also requires that if parole is denied for any such juvenile offender, each Board member shall identify his reasoning for such decision at the time such member's vote is cast, including any youth-related factor and evidence of maturity and rehabilitation that was considered. The bill requires that the Board provide to such prisoner for whom parole is denied recommendations to demonstrate commitment to rehabilitation and at the next hearing, the Board is required to consider whether the prisoner has followed such recommendations. The bill also requires the Board to annually review the cases of such juvenile offenders eligible for parole. This bill is identical to SB 60.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Fair parole review for juvenile offenders

People who committed felonies as juveniles are eligible for parole after serving 20 years if they got a life term or active terms over 20 years. The Board must give strong weight to maturity, rehabilitation, work and program history, and reentry plans. It must also treat youth factors as mitigating and cannot use age at the time of the crime against the person. For these cases, Board members must state their reasons at denial and give clear steps to show rehabilitation for the next hearing.

More open, timely parole reviews

The Board must adopt and publish parole rules that consider rehabilitation, education or work progress, prosocial behavior, and family or community support. Each case gets a timely review with a live interview at least once a year, and denials must give specific reasons and steps the person can take. Final votes on parole happen in a public meeting with at least three members; prisoners and victims can attend or speak. By the 15th of each month, the Board publishes last month’s actions, and each year it publishes totals and top reasons for grants and denials. When parole is granted, the Department of Corrections sets the release date at least 30 business days after notice. For sentences of 10 or more years or conditional releases, prosecutors get at least 21 business days’ notice before release.

Parole review for pre-2000 jury sentences

If a jury sentenced you before June 9, 2000 for a felony committed on or after January 1, 1995, and you were still in prison on July 1, 2020, you are eligible for parole review. This excludes Class 1 felonies and certain sexual offenses against minors. The Board must use procedures consistent with standard parole review rules for this group. Anyone eligible on July 1, 2020 had to get a parole interview by July 1, 2021, with extensions allowed for reasonable cause.

Board helps Governor review clemency

When the Governor asks, the Parole Board investigates and reports on clemency requests. This covers commutations, pardons, reprieves, and remission of fines or penalties.

New Parole Board setup and members

Beginning July 1, 2028, the Virginia Parole Board has up to five members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly. At least one member must be a victim or represent a victims’ group, and all must have relevant professional experience. Members serve four-year terms and at the Governor’s pleasure. The Governor must fill any vacancy within 60 days.

No parole for crimes from 1995

If your felony was committed on or after January 1, 1995, you are not eligible for parole under this article. There are narrow exceptions set elsewhere in law.

Parole rules: violations, treatment, discharge

If you are on parole and were committed to behavioral health services, you must follow all conditions and your treatment plan. The Board can revoke parole for violations and return you to prison or require community-based corrections programs instead. The Board can give a final discharge when it fits public welfare; early discharges need a majority vote. Each year, it must publish a report naming who was discharged early, with case details and how each Board member voted.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Patrick A. Hope

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 403 • No: 268

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 67 • No: 33

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 65 • No: 29

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote 3/4/2026

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 0 • No: 96

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 8 • No: 7

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 67 • No: 29

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s)

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 2/11/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 5 • No: 2

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Public Safety with substitute

Yes: 19 • No: 3

House vote 2/5/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 5 • No: 2

House vote 1/20/2026

Referred from General Laws and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 33-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1046)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (HB318ER2)

    4/22/2026House
  5. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1046 (Effective - see bill)

    4/22/2026Governor
  6. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  7. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  8. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  9. Governor's recommendation received by House

    4/11/2026Governor
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318)

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

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

    3/31/2026House
  13. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  14. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB318ER)

    3/30/2026House
  15. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  16. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318)

    3/13/2026House
  18. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  19. Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 29-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  20. Conference Report released

    3/12/2026
  21. House Conferees: Hope, Seibold, Wachsmann

    3/10/2026House
  22. Conferees appointed by House

    3/10/2026House
  23. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/10/2026Senate
  24. Senate Conferees: Surovell, VanValkenburg, Jordan

    3/10/2026Senate
  25. House acceded to request

    3/9/2026House

Bill Text

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