# Virginia SB1446: Human smuggling; penalties.

Virginia SB1446, Human smuggling; penalties., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Luther Cifers, III (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-27 (Stricken at request of Patron in Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1446-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1446
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Human smuggling; penalties.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-01-27, Stricken at request of Patron in Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Luther Cifers, III (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (14 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Human smuggling; penalties. Makes it a Class 6 felony for any person who, with the intent to obtain a pecuniary benefit, knowingly and with the intent to evade the immigration laws of the United States uses a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other means of conveyance to transport another person in or through the Commonwealth and knows or should have known that such person being transported is likely to be exploited for the financial gain of another. The bill provides that any person who commits human smuggling (i) in a manner that creates a substantial likelihood that the individual being smuggled will suffer serious bodily injury or death, (ii) by smuggling a child younger than 18 years of age at the time of the offense, or (iii) while knowingly possessing a firearm during the commission of the offense is guilty of a Class 3 felony. The bill also provides that any person who commits human smuggling and as a direct result of the commission of the offense the individual being smuggled (a) became a victim of human trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, sexual assault, or aggravated sexual assault or (b) suffered serious bodily injury or death is guilty of a Class 2 felony.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Luther Cifers, III (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-27 | Senate | Stricken at request of Patron in Courts of Justice | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (5)

- 2025-01-27: Stricken at request of Patron in Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1446) (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Impact statement from VCSC (SB1446) (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Presented and ordered printed 25103943D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023097.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023096.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023097.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023096.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)
- [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-SB1446-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).