# Virginia SB528: Misdemeanor proceedings; competency treatment. Virginia SB528, Misdemeanor proceedings; competency treatment., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by William M. Stanley, Jr. (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0502)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB528-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB528 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Misdemeanor proceedings; competency treatment. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0502) - Sponsor: William M. Stanley, Jr. (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 13 (481 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary Competency treatment in misdemeanor proceedings. Provides that in cases where the defendant has been charged with a misdemeanor offense, the court may (i) order inpatient or outpatient treatment or (ii) dismiss the charges. Where a defendant is found to be incompetent, the bill permits a court to (a) order that such defendant receive treatment to restore his competency on an outpatient basis in a local correctional facility or at a location determined by the appropriate community services board or behavioral health authority, (b) order that such defendant receive treatment to restore his competency on an inpatient basis at a hospital designated by the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as appropriate for treatment of persons under criminal charge, (c) order that such defendant be evaluated to determine whether he meets the criteria for temporary detention, or (d) dismiss the misdemeanor charge and release such defendant. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Safer transport options during emergency custody: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, courts or magistrates must approve an identified alternative transport provider that is available, willing, and safely capable. They must consider information from people familiar with the situation, and police must take custody before transferring it to the provider. Trips… - More support during emergency mental-health care: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, a present family member or legal guardian able to provide support can stay during covered evaluations. The person being evaluated can object, and clinicians can exclude support people for medical, clinical, safety, or patient-care reasons. People taken into emergency custody… - Payment rules for emergency custody services: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, custody can transfer to a licensed facility or location able to provide the security needed. A facility receiving someone from police must have an agency agreement and cannot charge that agency transfer fees or costs. Licensed health providers receive payments under § 37.2-8… - Fewer damage claims against transport providers: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, alternative emergency-custody transport providers are protected from civil damage claims by the people they transport. The protection covers acts or failures to act involving ordinary negligence while providing transportation under this section. The law sets no dollar cap; i… - Custody deadlines and extra placement time: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, an emergency-custody order becomes void if not carried out within eight hours after issuance. It must be returned to the court clerk, or a local magistrate when the clerk's office is closed. Separately, for people detained in state facilities under § 37.2-809(E), staff can c… - Treatment or dismissal for unfit defendants: mixed, low. Courts can order outpatient or inpatient treatment for defendants charged only with misdemeanors and found unable to stand trial. Courts can instead dismiss charges and order emergency custody, with an evaluation for possible temporary detention. For misdemeanor violations of Article 3, Chapter 5,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: William M. Stanley, Jr. (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2026-02-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 10 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 | | ## Actions (45) - 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0502) (Governor) - 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter502 (Effective 7/1/2027) (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB528) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB528ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-09: House substitute agreed to by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-03-04: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB528) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-02: Committee substitute printed 26108606D-H1 (House) - 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-27: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-24: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House) - 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House) - 2026-02-24: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB528) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute printed 26107604D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB528) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101848D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218155.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218154.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207043.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207042.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189434.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189433.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186452.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186943.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186451.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186942.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149104.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1156608.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149103.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1156607.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090701.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090699.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/1218155.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218154.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207043.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207042.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189434.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189433.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186452.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186943.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186451.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186942.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149104.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1156608.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149103.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1156607.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090701.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090699.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-SB528-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).