# Virginia HB350: Jury service; exemption for fire marshals.

Virginia HB350, Jury service; exemption for fire marshals., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Ellen H. McLaughlin (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0117)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB350-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB350
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Jury service; exemption for fire marshals.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0117)
- Sponsor: Ellen H. McLaughlin (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (217 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

Exemption from jury service; fire marshals. Adds the State Fire Marshal and any officer appointed as a fire marshal to the list of persons automatically exempt from jury service.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Court clerks excused from juries: benefit, low. Elected circuit court clerks and their deputies do not have to serve on juries in civil or criminal cases while they hold those offices.
- Fire marshals exempt from juries: benefit, low. The State Fire Marshal and officers appointed as fire marshals do not have to serve on juries in civil or criminal cases while they hold those roles.
- Lawmakers excused from jury duty: benefit, low. Members of the U.S. Congress are exempt from jury service in civil and criminal cases. Members of the Virginia General Assembly are exempt while the Assembly is in session or during an official legislative continuance.
- Lawyers and judges exempt from juries: benefit, low. Licensed practicing attorneys do not have to serve on juries in civil or criminal cases. Judges, State Corporation Commission members, Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission members, and magistrates are also exempt while in those roles.
- Police and sheriffs excused from juries: benefit, low. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, state police, and local police officers do not have to serve on juries in civil or criminal cases while employed in those roles.
- Prison and jail staff skip juries: benefit, low. The penitentiary superintendent, assistants, and penitentiary guards are exempt from jury service in civil and criminal cases. Regional jail superintendents and jail officers are also exempt while in those jobs.
- State and federal leaders skip juries: benefit, low. The President and Vice President do not have to serve on juries in civil or criminal cases. Virginia’s Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General are also exempt while in office.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ellen H. McLaughlin (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 97 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 19 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (27)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0117) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 117 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB350ER) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-02: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-28: Committee substitute printed 26106284D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (19-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102326D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216484.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216483.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177863.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177862.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100137.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100136.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097022.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097021.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083952.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083951.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/1216484.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216483.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177863.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177862.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100137.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100136.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097022.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097021.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083952.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083951.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-HB350-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).