Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 198
Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Barbara A. Favola (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE
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 was not caused by and 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. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by a subsequent regular or special session of the General Assembly.
Text versions
- Introduced
- Courts of Justice Substitute
- Finance and Appropriations Amendment
- Engrossed
- Criminal Subcommittee Amendment
- Courts of Justice Amendment
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026 House | Tabled in Appropriations | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 2, 2026 House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 20, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 16, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 12, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 11, 2026 Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 9, 2026 Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Mar 9, 2026 · House
Tabled in Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) - Mar 2, 2026 · House
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) - Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB198) - Feb 20, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N) - Feb 20, 2026 · House
House subcommittee offered - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended (Voice Vote) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (13-Y 2-N) - Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26105843D-S1 - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB198) - Jan 9, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Jan 9, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104790D