HB193 Parole; exception to limitation on the application of parole statutes.
Introduced by: Delores L. McQuinn (Chief Patron) [D]

View the bill here.

Provides that a person is eligible to be considered for parole if such person (i) was sentenced by a jury after the date of the Supreme Court of Virginia decision in Fishback v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 104 (2000), in which the Supreme Court held that a jury should be instructed on the fact that parole has been abolished, for a felony committed on or after the abolition of parole going into effect on January 1, 1995; (ii) can prove by the preponderance of the evidence that the jury in his case was not instructed on the fact that parole has been abolished; and (iii) remained incarcerated for the offense on July 1, 2026, and the offense was not one of the following: (a) a Class 1 felony; (b) if the victim was a minor, rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, or aggravated sexual battery or an attempt to commit any such act; or (c) carnal knowledge. The bill also requires the Parole Board to establish procedures for consideration of parole of persons entitled to it and also provides that any person who is eligible for parole as of July 1, 2026, shall be scheduled for a parole interview no later than July 1, 2027, allowing for extension of time for reasonable cause.

2/13/2026 Reported from House-Appropriations committee (15‑Y 7‑N)

2/17/2026 Read third time and passed House (61‑Y 35‑N 0‑A)

3/02/2026 Reported from Senate-Courts of Justice committee with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

3/05/2026 Senate amendments agreed to by House (71‑Y 27‑N 0‑A)

3/09/2026  Reported from S-Finance and Appropriations committee (13‑Y 1‑N)

3/11/2026 Passed Senate with amendments (26‑Y 14‑N 0‑A)

3/12/2026 Senate amendments agreed to by House (63‑Y 35‑N 0‑A)

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HB318 Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations.
Introduced by: Patrick A. Hope (Chief Patron) [D]

View the bill here.

 Increases the members of the Virginia Parole Board (the Board) to at least 11 members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor within 60 days of inauguration, three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates within 60 days after a new House is sworn in after an election, and three of whom shall be appointed by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules within 60 days after a new Senate is sworn in after an election, and all of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, if in session when such appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. The bill specifies that all members of the Board shall have significant professional experience working in criminal law, corrections, reentry and community services, or victim services and that the Board members appointed by the Governor shall include (i) an attorney with significant experience in criminal prosecution; (ii) an attorney with significant experience in criminal defense; (iii) a qualified mental health professional with relevant background in adolescent development, trauma responses, psychology, and decision-making; and (iv) a representative of a crime victims organization or a victim of crime. These provisions of the bill have an effective date of July 1, 2027.

The bill also requires the Board to provide a meaningful opportunity for release to certain juvenile offenders eligible for parole and specifies various factors the Board shall consider when making a determination on whether to grant parole to such juvenile offender. The bill allows a juvenile offender to request for reconsideration or appeal of a decision by the Board not to grant parole based on (a) the Board's failure to give substantial weight to such juvenile offender's age and its related mitigating circumstances as required by the bill or (b) the Board's overreliance on static factors of the offense and failure to ground its decision in evidence of maturity, rehabilitation, and a lack of present danger to public safety. Finally, the bill requires the Board to provide individualized reasons for the grant or denial of parole upon reconsideration or appeal.

2/06/2026 Reported from House-Public Safety committee with substitute

2/09/2026 House. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB318)

2/11/2026 Reported from House-Appropriations committee with amendment(s) (15‑Y 7‑N)

2/17/2026 Read third time and passed House (67‑Y 29‑N 0‑A)

2/20/2026 Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee substitute printed.

2/25/2026 Reported from Senate-Finance and Appropriations committee (10‑Y 5‑N)

3/02/2026 Passed Senate with substitute (20‑Y 19‑N 0‑A)

3/04/2026 Senate substitute rejected by House (0‑Y 96‑N 0‑A)

3/06/2026 Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)

3/06/2026 Senate requested conference committee

3/09/2026 House acceded to request

3/13/2026 Conference report agreed to by Senate (21‑Y 18‑N 0‑A)

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HB1030 Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations.
Introduced by: Tony O. Wilt (Chief Patron)

View the bill here.
Requires the Virginia Parole Board to complete discretionary parole eligibility guidelines, described in the bill, for each prisoner eligible for parole.

1/14/2026 Referred to H-Committee on H-Public Safety

1/23/2026 House. Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2

1/29/2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1030)

2/16/2026 House-Public Safety committee substitute agreed to

2/2/17/2026 Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)

2/18/2026 Senate. Referred to Committee on S-Rehabilitation and Social Services

3/06/2026 Senate. Reported from S-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee with substitute (15‑Y 0‑N)

3/10/2026 Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)

3/11/2026 Senate substitute agreed to by House (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)

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SB209 Geriatric prisoners; conditional release.
Introduced by: Bill DeSteph (Chief Patron) [D]

View the bill here.

Expands the list of offenses that prohibit a person from petitioning the Parole Board for conditional release as a geriatric prisoner.

1/9/2026 Senate. Referred to Committee on S-Rehabilitation and Social Services

1/23/2026 Reported from Senate -Rehabilitation and Social Services committee with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8‑Y 7‑N)

2/11/2026 Senate. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB209)

2/17/2026 Senate Rereferred to Senate-Finance and Appropriations committee

2/17/2026 Senate. Read third time​.

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PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE. PENDING THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION​.

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SB60 Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties; juvenile offenders; parole procedures and considerations.
Introduced by: Mamie E. Locke (Chief Patron) [D]

View bill here.

Increases the members of the Virginia Parole Board (the Board) from up to five to nine members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor within 60 days of inauguration, two of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates within 60 days of a new House being sworn in during a Senate election year, and two of whom shall be appointed by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules within 60 days of a new Senate being sworn in after an election, and all of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, if in session when such appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. The bill specifies that all members of the Board shall have significant professional experience working in criminal law, corrections, reentry and community services, or victim services and that the Board members appointed by the Governor shall include (i) an attorney with significant experience in criminal prosecution; (ii) an attorney with significant experience in criminal defense; (iii) a qualified mental health professional with relevant background in adolescent development, trauma responses, psychology, and decision-making; and (iv) a representative of a crime victims organization or a victim of crime. These provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2028.

The bill requires that in advance of the Board's final deliberation and vote regarding whether or not to grant a prisoner parole, the Board provide a true copy of all information collected through the investigation conducted into the prisoner's history, physical and mental condition and character, and his conduct, employment, and attitude while in prison to the prisoner, his attorney, or his designee either electronically or in paper form, provided that neither the prisoner, his attorney, nor his designee willfully or intentionally further disclose, reproduce, copy, or disseminate such information. If parole is denied, the bill requires the Board provide recommendations such inmate may take to demonstrate commitment to rehabilitation.

The bill also requires the Board to provide a meaningful opportunity for release to certain juvenile offenders eligible for parole and specifies various factors the Board shall give substantial weight to when making a determination on whether to grant parole to such juvenile offender. The bill allows a juvenile offender to request for reconsideration or appeal of a decision by the Board not to grant parole based on (a) the Board's failure to give substantial weight to such juvenile offender's age and its related mitigating circumstances as required by the bill or (b) the Board's overreliance on static factors such as the nature and circumstances of the offense and failure to ground its decision in evidence of maturity, rehabilitation, and a lack of present danger to public safety. The bill requires the Board to provide individualized reasons for the grant or denial of parole upon reconsideration or appeal.

The bill also requires that if parole is denied for any such juvenile offender, each Board member shall identify his reasoning for such decision at the time such member's vote is cast, including any youth-related factor and evidence of maturity and rehabilitation that was considered. The bill requires that the Board provide to such prisoner for whom parole is denied recommendations to demonstrate commitment to rehabilitation and at the next hearing, the Board is required to consider whether the prisoner has followed such recommendations. The bill also requires the Board to annually review the cases of such juvenile offenders eligible for parole.

12/8/2025 Referred to Committee on Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee

01/20/2026 Senate. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB60)

1/23/2026 Reported from Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8‑Y 7‑N)

1/26/2026 Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee substitute printed 26105956D‑S1

2/05/2026 Reported from S-Finance and Appropriations committee with substitute (10‑Y 5‑N)

2/11/2026 Read third time and passed Senate (20‑Y 19‑N 0‑A)

2/25/2026 Passed House with substitute (69‑Y 29‑N 0‑A)

2/27/2026 House substitute agreed to by Senate (20‑Y 19‑N 0‑A)

3/04/2026 Senate. Signed by President
3/04/2026 House. Signed by Speaker

3/10/2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

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SJ26 Parole; JLARC to study expansion of discretionary eligibility.

Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to consult with all relevant stakeholders to study the potential impacts of expanded discretionary parole eligibility. The resolution directs JLARC to complete its first year of meetings by September 1, 2026, and to submit an interim report by March 1, 2027. Additionally, JLARC is directed to complete its second year of meetings and submit its findings and recommendations no later than December 1, 2027.
Introduced by: David W. Marsden (Chief Patron) [R]

View the Senate Joint Resolution here.
Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to consult with all relevant stakeholders to study the potential impacts of expanded discretionary parole eligibility. The resolution directs JLARC to complete its first year of meetings by September 1, 2026, and to submit an interim report by March 1, 2027. Additionally, JLARC is directed to complete its second year of meetings and submit its findings and recommendations no later than December 1, 2027.

1/13/2026 Senate. Referred to Committee on Senate-Rules

2/11/2026 Agreed to by Senate by voice vote (Voice Vote)

2/17/2026 House. Referred to Committee on H-Rules

3/2/2026 House. H-RUL Studies Subcommittee recommends reporting (4‑Y 1‑N)

3/06/2026 House. Reported from H-Rules committee (12‑Y 6‑N)

3/11/2026 Agreed to by House (65‑Y 33‑N 0‑A)

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FAILED BILLS 2026

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HB739 Virginia Parole Board; membership; appointment of members; powers and duties.
Introduced by Wren M. Williams (Chief Patron) [R]

View the bill here.

Increases the membership of the Parole Board from up to five members to 10 members, five of whom are to be appointed by the Governor, three of whom are to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and two of whom are to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The bill requires that four of the five Parole Board members appointed by the Governor have specific background and experience as enumerated in the bill.

The bill also provides that when the Parole Board votes to deny an inmate's parole and issues the basis for such denial in writing as required by current law, the Parole Board shall also include in such writing specific steps that the inmate may take to demonstrate commitment to rehabilitation and notice that the Parole Board shall, at such inmate's next parole hearing, consider whether the inmate has taken such steps. Finally, the bill requires the Parole Board, at least 30 days prior to its final deliberation and vote regarding whether to grant parole to an inmate, to provide a true copy of all information collected throughout the investigation to such inmate, his attorney, or another person that the inmate has designated to receive such information either electronically or in paper form.

1/13/2026 House Referred to Committee on H-Public Safety

1/20/2026 House. Assigned H-HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2

2/05/2026 House-PS Subcommittee #2 recommends laying on the table (7‑Y 0‑N)

2/18/2026 House. Left in Committee Public Safety

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HB1326 Conditional release of geriatric prisoners.
Introduced by: Anne Ferrell Tata (Chief Patron) [R]

View the bill here.
Conditional release of geriatric prisoners. Expands the list of offenses that prohibit a person from petitioning the Parole Board for conditional release as a geriatric prisoner.

1/20/2026 House. Fiscal Impact Statement from VCSC (1/20/2026 1:45 pm)

1/23/2026 House. Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2

2/05/2026 House-PS Subcommittee #2 substitute offered

2/11/2026 Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/11/2026 12:05 pm)

2/18/2026 House. Left in Committee Public Safety

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BILLS CONTINUED TO 2027

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SB538 Parole; investigation prior to release; input from the attorney for the Commonwealth.
Introduced by: David R. Suetterlein (Chief Patron) [R]

View the bill here.
Requires the Parole Board to notify the attorney for the Commonwealth in each jurisdiction in which an offense occurred for which a prisoner is incarcerated as part of the required investigation to determine if such prisoner will be released on parole. The bill further provides that the attorney for the Commonwealth may submit his input to the Board regarding the impact the release of the prisoner will have on the jurisdiction. The bill requires that any such input received shall remain in the prisoner's parole file and be considered by the Board at every parole review but shall not infringe on the Board's authority to exercise its decision-making authority.​

1/28/2026 Read third time and passed Senate (30‑Y 10‑N 0‑A)

2/22/27/2026 Continued to 2027 in H-Public Safety committee (Voice Vote)6/2026 House-PS Subcommittee #2 recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote

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SB222 Parole; eligibility; youthful offenders.
Introduced by: Michael J. Jones (Chief Patron) [D]

View the bill here.

Expands the eligibility requirements for juvenile parole to include (i) any person sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for a single felony offense or multiple felony offenses committed while that person was 20 years of age or younger and who has served at least 20 years of such sentence and (ii) any person who has active sentences that total more than 20 years for a single felony offense or multiple felony offenses committed while that person was 20 years of age or younger and who has served at least 20 years of such sentence. Under current law, only a person who was a juvenile when he committed any such offense is eligible for juvenile parole.

1/9/2026 Senate, Referred to Committee on Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services

1/30/2026 Continued to 2027 in Senate-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee (15‑Y 0‑N)

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