Senate Courts & Justice committee advances, tables and amends multiple bills ahead of crossover; key votes recorded

The Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee completed its last pre‑crossover meeting, taking action on a broad package of criminal‑justice, public‑safety and administrative bills.

Among votes recorded in committee: members reported substitutes and amended measures concerning crosswalk strikes by motor vehicles, inspections at animal boarding facilities, juvenile tobacco possession penalties, rules about evidence from traffic stops for unlit headlights, and technical clarifications for speed‑camera programs. After extended debate, the committee voted 9–6 to pass by indefinitely (PBI) a juvenile immigration/ICE notification measure that drew long public comment and testimony from civil‑rights groups, faith organizations and the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the hearing): - SB 14 (substitute): Amended to add misdemeanor consequences for striking a pedestrian at a crosswalk when the collision results in serious bodily injury or death and to clarify the covered pedestrian language. Committee action: reported as substitute amended. Roll call (committee): Ayes 13, Noes 0. - SB 1051 (boarding‑facility inspections): Substitute adopted to require consent or a search warrant for inspections and to limit random inspections; reported. Roll call: Ayes 13, Noes 0. - SB 1266 / related tobacco bills (possession by under‑21s): Committee consolidated related bills; substitute adopted that would restore prior possession language and allow…