# Virginia HB863: Offenses, certain; elimination of mandatory minimum sentences.

Virginia HB863, Offenses, certain; elimination of mandatory minimum sentences., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-03-06 (Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (3/6/2026 3:51 pm)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB863-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB863
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Offenses, certain; elimination of mandatory minimum sentences.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-03-06, Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (3/6/2026 3:51 pm)
- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses. Eliminates the mandatory minimum term of confinement for certain crimes.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Continued to 2027 in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-03-06: Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (3/6/2026 3:51 pm) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB863) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Continued to 2027 in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102686D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086562.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086561.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086562.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086561.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB863-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).