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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 172

Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain range of punishment, etc.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain punishment. Provides that an accused may withdraw a request for a jury to ascertain punishment up until the commencement of the sentencing proceeding. The bill also provides that counsel for either party shall have the right to examine jurors regarding the potential punishment, or range or ranges of punishment, regardless of whether the jury will ascertain punishment and that the court or counsel for either party may inform any person or juror during voir dire as to the potential punishment, or range or ranges of punishment, to ascertain if the person or juror can sit impartially in the guilt or sentencing phase of the case. Current law provides that the court or counsel for either party may inform any person or juror during voir dire as to the potential range of punishment to ascertain if the person or juror can sit impartially in the sentencing phase of the case.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 12, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 11, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 10, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 9, 2026
Senate		Reported from Courts of Justice with amendmentspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 10, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 4, 2026
House		Reported from Courts of Justice with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 30, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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