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Courts of Justice subcommittees report multiple civil and criminal bills; votes at a glance
Summary
Civil and criminal subcommittees reported a block of bills affecting housing, voting rights, public safety, drones, and protective orders. Most bills were reported unanimously or by strong margins; several contested items recorded closer votes.
The civil and criminal subcommittees of the House Courts of Justice committee reported a slate of bills to the full committee during the session, advancing measures on public housing tenant protections, voting‑eligibility standards for incapacitated persons, expanded definitions for certain public‑safety offenses and property seizure for financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Many bills were reported unanimously or with strong majorities; several received contested votes. Below is a concise summary of the bills discussed and the committee roll results as recorded during the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- HB 23‑51 (Delegate Hernandez): Removes the $25,000,000 cap on suspension bonds and irrevocable letters of credit for appellants during appeals. Reported (block) 17‑0.
- HB 24‑31 (substitute): Allows certain graduates who studied law under supervision to sit for the Virginia bar exam (language developed with input from OES, VBBE and SCHEV). Reported (block) 17‑0.
- HB 24‑15 (Delegate Cousins, substitute): Exempts indigent defendants from posting an appeal bond in unlawful detainer actions brought by a public housing authority; restricts public housing authorities from charging tenants for maintenance except when tenant‑caused; requires notices of nonpayment to include recertification information printed on pink or orange paper per federal rules. Reported with substitute on a committee vote of 13‑7.
- HB 27‑46 (Delegate Tran, substitute): Provides that a guardianship finding of incapacity does not automatically equal a finding of mental incompetence for voting eligibility; the court must specifically find a person lacks the capacity to understand voting before depriving voting rights. Reported with substitute 14‑6.
- HB 15‑83 (Delegate Ballard): Adds the threat to discharge a firearm to existing felonies involving threats to bomb, burn or damage a place of assembly or transport; raises the age threshold in one provision (from under 15 to under 18). Subcommittee recommended reporting; final recorded report vote 20‑0.
- HB 17‑15 (patron Watts, substitute): Makes "veil theft" a state crime to address increased mail/package theft and related fraud; reported with substitute 20‑0.
- HB 17‑26 (Delegate Price, substitute): Creates a class 4 felony for flying a drone to obtain images of technical information within a contracted defense facility and directs the Crime Commission to study analogous protections for other critical infrastructure. Reported with substitute 20‑0.
- HB 19‑98 (Delegate Walker, substitute): As substituted, creates a class 5 felony for maliciously threatening eviction or other losses to coerce a person into engaging in sexual acts (extortion by threatening to post intimate images), with penalties adjusted by age; reported with substitute 18‑2.
- HB 20‑36 (substitute): Expands reckless driving to include stopping or slowing traffic for street takeovers or exhibition driving, authorizes impound/immobilization and penalizes riding outside passenger compartments; substitute tightened the definition of exhibition driving (now requires five or more spectators) and reduced one penalty from class 1 to class 3 misdemeanor; reported 17‑3.
- HB 21‑23 (Delegate Maldonado, substitute): Allows courts to issue certain protective orders for up to four years if the respondent had a prior protective order within 10 years; also allows two‑year extensions; reported with substitute 18‑2.
- HB 24‑06 (Delegate Scott): Clarifies the definition of "law enforcement officer" referenced in certain statutes to resolve conflicting listings; reported 20‑0 after returning the bill to its original form.
- HB 27‑83 (Delegate Simon): Makes placing a [intimidating object/sign] on another's private property or public place with intent to intimidate a class 6 felony; reported 20‑0.
- HB 21‑20 (substitute): Establishes procedures for seizing property used in or derived from financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and clarifies seizure/forfeiture statutes; reported with substitute 20‑0.
Contested items and notable discussion
Committee debate was limited on many bills but surfaced on several criminal‑justice measures. Members discussed the drafting and prosecutorial implications of HB 20‑36 (exhibition driving); Delegate Simon expressed concern that the measure, while well‑intended, could increase opportunities for pretextual stops and pledged to work with the patron to tighten language on the floor. HB 24‑15 (public housing) drew a 13‑7 recorded vote after subcommittee substitution and discussion of tenants’ protections and recertification procedures. HB 27‑46 (voting and incapacity) was debated as it changes the presumption around incapacity findings and the right to vote and was reported 14‑6.
Next steps
Bills reported by subcommittees move forward in the committee process according to the House rules; several of the measures here will be scheduled for full committee consideration.
