# Virginia HB318: Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations. Virginia HB318, Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Patrick A. Hope (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB318-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB318 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-10 - Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) - Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 18 (403 yes, 268 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 9 ## 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. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Parole access for long juvenile sentences: benefit, high. People serving life sentences for felonies committed as juveniles become eligible for parole after serving at least 20 years. The same rule covers active sentences totaling more than 20 years for one or more juvenile felonies. Eligibility gives them a chance to seek release, but does not guarantee… - Community programs instead of parole revocation: benefit, medium. The Board may choose an eligible state community corrections program instead of revoking parole and returning someone to prison. This applies when someone violates parole conditions or the Board finds them otherwise unfit to remain on parole. The person must qualify for the program, and the Board d… - Parole access for older jury sentences: benefit, medium. Parole laws cover people sentenced by a jury before June 9, 2000, for felonies committed on or after January 1, 1995. They must have remained incarcerated for that offense on July 1, 2020. Class 1 felonies and specified sexual offenses with minor victims are excluded. The Board must set procedures… - Stronger parole protections for juvenile offenders: benefit, medium. For eligible juvenile offenders, the Board must give substantial weight to maturity, rehabilitation, programs, work, skills, and release plans. It must weigh recent prison conduct more heavily and consider barriers to entering adulthood after prison. Youth, peer pressure, family circumstances, and… - Victim representation and clearer parole rules: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2028, Virginia's Parole Board has five members, including a crime victim or victims' group representative. Members need substantial experience in criminal law, corrections, mental health and adolescent development, reentry and community services, or victim services. The Governor a… - Treatment compliance required for committed parolees: cost, low. Parolees committed to Virginia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services under Chapter 9 of Title 37.2 must follow its conditions. They must also follow their treatment plans. These duties become part of their parole conditions. - Regular parole reviews with interview requirements: mixed, medium. The Board must review eligible prisoners when they qualify and generally at least yearly afterward. Reviews include a live interview in person, by video, or by phone. Parole requires an interview within the prior calendar year, except for imminent death or documented extraordinary circumstances. Re… - Parole release waits and prosecutor notice: mixed, low. Release generally must wait at least 30 business days after corrections officials receive the Board Chairman's notice of approval. Earlier dates are allowed for the conditional releases specified by law. The Board must notify the prosecutor at least 21 business days before releasing someone sentenc… - Public parole votes and written explanations: mixed, low. Final parole debates and votes must happen at public meetings, held in person or by video. The prisoner or attorney and the victim may attend; victims may speak or provide testimony. At least three Board members must discuss and debate before granting discretionary parole, and members must explain… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 67 | 33 | | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 65 | 29 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 96 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 20 | 19 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-02-20 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 7 | | | 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 67 | 29 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) | pass | 15 | 7 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 5 | 2 | | | 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 19 | 3 | | | 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 2 | | | 2026-01-20 | House | Referred from General Laws and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (67) - 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 33-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1046) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB318ER2) (House) - 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor - Chapter 1046 (effective - see bill) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor) - 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318) (House) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB318ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318) (House) - 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 29-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-12: Conference Report released - 2026-03-10: House Conferees: Hope, Seibold, Wachsmann (House) - 2026-03-10: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-10: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Senate Conferees: Surovell, VanValkenburg, Jordan (Senate) - 2026-03-09: House acceded to request (House) - 2026-03-06: Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-02: Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318) (House) - 2026-02-20: Committee substitute printed 26108306D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318) (House) - 2026-02-20: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (67-Y 29-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended (House) - 2026-02-16: committee amendments agreed to (House) - 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-13: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-11: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-11: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-02-11: Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on Appropriations (House) - 2026-02-10: Motion to refer to Appropriations agreed to (House) - 2026-02-10: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-10: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318) (House) - 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107070D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-06: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (19-Y 3-N) (House) - 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318) (House) - 2026-02-05: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-01-23: Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House) - 2026-01-20: Referred from General Laws and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House) - 2026-01-10: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House) - 2026-01-10: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104539D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225241.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225240.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220344.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220343.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218775.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218774.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218771.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213707.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213706.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209255.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209252.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209251.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171338.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171189.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171337.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171188.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143915.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143914.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142571.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142574.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142018.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132441.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132440.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128215.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127993.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128214.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127992.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083844.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083842.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/1225241.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225240.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220344.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220343.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218775.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218774.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218771.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213707.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213706.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209255.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209252.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209251.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171338.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171189.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171337.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171188.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143915.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143914.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142571.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142574.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142018.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132441.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132440.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128215.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127993.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128214.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127992.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083844.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083842.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) - [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-HB318-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).