Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB 489
Restorative justice practices; definitions, effect of participation, immunity from civil liability.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)
Cosponsors (2)
- Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democratic)
- Karen Keys-Gamarra (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE
Restorative justice practices. Provides that participation in a restorative justice practice, as defined in the bill, shall not be used as evidence or as an admission of guilt, delinquency, or civil liability in current or subsequent legal proceedings against any participant. The bill also provides that restorative justice communications, defined in the bill, are not admissible in, or subject to discovery for, any legal proceeding, and disclosure of such communications shall not be compelled in any judicial or administrative proceeding, arbitration, or mediation. The bill prohibits any person involved in a restorative justice practice, as defined in the bill, from testifying about any phase of such practice in any judicial or administrative proceeding, arbitration, or mediation except in certain circumstances enumerated in the bill. Lastly, the bill provides civil immunity for any person, who in good faith, discloses any restorative justice communication based on his belief that such disclosure is allowed pursuant to such provisions, provided that such disclosure was limited to solely address any such allowable disclosure.
Text versions
- Introduced
- Criminal Subcommittee Substitute
- Courts of Justice Substitute
- Senator Perry Substitute
- Senator Surovell Amendment
- Senate Amendment
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2026 Senate | Insist & Request R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 12, 2026 House | H VOTE: | fail | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 11, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 11, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 11, 2026 Senate | Reconsider R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 9, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 5, 2026 Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 11, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Mar 14, 2026 · House
Failed to Pass from conference - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Failed to Pass from conference - Mar 14, 2026 · House
No further action taken - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Senate insisted on substitute with amendment - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Senate Conferees: Perry, Favola, McDougle - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate - Mar 12, 2026 · House
House Conferees: Hope, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Conferees appointed by House - Mar 12, 2026 · House
House acceded to request - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Senate requested conference committee - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Senate insisted on substitute with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Senate substitute with amendment rejected by House (1-Y 95-N 0-A) - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Read third time - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate with substitute with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - substitute with amendment - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Senator Surovell Amendment agreed to - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote) - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Floor offered Senator Surovell Amendment - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Senator Perry Substitute withdrawn - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Floor offered Senator Perry Substitute - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Read third time - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26109133D-S1 - Mar 5, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 6-N) - Mar 5, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) - Feb 17, 2026 · House
Read third time and passed House (61-Y 36-N 0-A) - Feb 16, 2026 · House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute - Feb 16, 2026 · House
committee substitute agreed to - Feb 16, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 15, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Committee substitute printed 26107493D-H1 - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 6-N) - Feb 11, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) - Feb 11, 2026 · House
House subcommittee offered - Feb 7, 2026 · House
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal - Jan 12, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Jan 12, 2026 · House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105104D