# Virginia SB837: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements in cases.

Virginia SB837, Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements in cases., is a 2027 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Barbara A. Favola (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-09-17 (Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB837-2027
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB837
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements in cases.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-09-17
- Last action: 2026-09-17, Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Barbara A. Favola (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Admissibility of statements by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities in certain cases. Prohibits admission of any evidence from an individual with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities, as defined in relevant law, in certain criminal prosecutions unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that such individual's decision to speak to law enforcement did not have a direct and substantial relationship to such individual's disability. The bill requires notice be given to the attorney for the Commonwealth if a defendant intends to introduce expert testimony regarding his disability. The bill prohibits any statements made by a defendant during an examination by an expert witness from being used against him except for impeachment or perjury.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Barbara A. Favola (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (2)

- 2026-09-17: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-09-17: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2027 27100491D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-09-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231843.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231842.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231843.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231842.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-SB837-2027 (as of 2026-10-11).