# Virginia SB1255: Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions.

Virginia SB1255, Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Lamont Bagby (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0470)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1255-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1255
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0470)
- Sponsor: Lamont Bagby (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (249 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Use of restraints on juveniles in court prohibited; exceptions. Prohibits the use of instruments of restraint, as defined in the bill, on a juvenile appearing before the juvenile and domestic relations district court unless, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth or on the court's own motion sua sponte, the court makes a finding that (i) the use of such restraints is necessary (a) to prevent physical harm to such juvenile or another person, (b) because such juvenile has a history of disruptive courtroom behavior that has placed others in potentially harmful situations or presents a substantial threat of serious harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior, or (c) because such juvenile presents a substantial risk of flight from the courtroom and (ii) there are no less restrictive alternatives to such restraints that will prevent flight of or harm to such juvenile or another person, including court personnel or law-enforcement officers. The bill provides that the juvenile shall be entitled to an attorney prior to a hearing on the use of instruments of restraint. The bill also requires the court to provide the juvenile's attorney an opportunity to be heard before the court orders the use of instruments of restraint, and the juvenile's attorney may waive the juvenile's appearance at such hearing. Lastly, the bill requires the court, if such restraints are ordered, to communicate to the parties the basis of the decision either orally or in writing. This bill is identical to HB 2222.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lamont Bagby (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 95 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-23 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-21 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-20 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0470) (Governor)
- 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 470 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-02-20: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-02-20: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 20, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1255) (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1255ER) (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-12: House substitute agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (95-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-10: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-10: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-10: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-07: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1255) (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-05: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Committee substitute printed 25106789D-H1 (House)
- 2025-02-04: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-04: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-02-04: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1255) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Committee substitute printed 25105484D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute-SB1255S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103554D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076804.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076803.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049837.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049836.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042486.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042485.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025912.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025911.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018520.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018519.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076804.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1076803.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049837.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049836.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042486.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042485.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025912.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025911.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018520.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018519.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1255-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).