# Virginia SB624: Assault and battery; definition of "Islamophobia," penalty.

Virginia SB624, Assault and battery; definition of "Islamophobia," penalty., is a 2027 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-07-21 (Continued from last session) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB624-2027
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB624
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Assault and battery; definition of "Islamophobia," penalty.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-07-21, Continued from last session
- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Assault and battery; definition of "Islamophobia"; penalty. Defines "Islamophobia" as it relates to the crime of assault and battery as malicious prejudice or hatred directed toward Islam or Muslims. This definition applies regardless of whether the victim is actually a practitioner of Islam, provided that the perpetrator targeted such victim based on a perceived adherence to such faith. The bill also clarifies that religious conviction includes Islam. The bill directs the Department of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to include the bill's definition of "Islamophobia" in its hate crime reporting central repository.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (6)

- 2026-07-21: Continued from last session (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Continued to 2027 in Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 4:32 pm) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104940D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229999.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229998.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230745.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230744.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report. (in committee)
- HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements. (introduced)
- HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information. (introduced)
- SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset. (in committee)
- SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment. (in committee)
- SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion State Prison. (in committee)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229999.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229998.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230745.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230744.PDF)

## Related
- [SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB844-2027)
- [HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1535-2027)
- [HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1534-2027)
- [SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB843-2027)
- [SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB842-2027)
- [SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion Sta…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB840-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB624-2027 (as of 2026-10-11).