Virginia House Bill 853

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: Introduced on January 13 2026 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2026-02-11 - Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility; procedures; report. Provides procedures for individuals serving a sentence for certain felony convictions or a combination of such convictions who remain incarcerated in a state or local correctional facility or secure facility and meet certain criteria to petition the circuit court that entered the original judgment or order to (i) suspend the unserved portion of such sentence or run the unserved portion of such sentence concurrently with another sentence, (ii) place such person on probation for such time as the court shall determine, or (iii) otherwise modify the sentence imposed. Depending on the type of conviction, the bill allows the court to grant a hearing on such petition after an individual has served at least 25 years for certain offenses, after 20 years for certain other offenses, and after 15 years for any other felony conviction not specified. The bill directs the Department of Corrections to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to (a) consider and recommend best practices for implementation of the bill and (b) evaluate and recommend updates to victim notification systems. The work group shall complete its meetings by November 1, 2026, and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than December 1, 2026.

Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility, procedures, report.

Del. Rae Cousins [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-02-11	House	Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09	House	Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09	House	Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/9/2026 11:33 am)
2026-02-04	House	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB853)
2026-02-04	House	Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 10:34 am)
2026-02-03	House	Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
2026-01-29	House	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB853)
2026-01-13	House	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-13	House	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105027D

Type	Source
Summary	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB853
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB853/text/HB853
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101848.PDF
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116146.PDF
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127568.PDF
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134246.PDF