Bill Commons

VA HB 489

dead

Restorative justice practices; definitions, effect of participation, immunity from civil liability.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 489 pass?

No. VA HB 489 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process (2026-03-14). Latest recorded action (2026-03-14): Failed to Pass from conference

What is VA HB 489 about?

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.

Who sponsors VA HB 489?

Patrick A. Hope is the primary sponsor of VA HB 489, joined by 2 cosponsors.

Description

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.

Introduced
2026-01-12
Latest action
2026-03-14 — Failed to Pass from conference
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Sponsors

  • Patrick A. Hopeprimary
  • Destiny LeVere Bollingcosponsor
  • Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-12

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105104D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-12

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-02-07

    Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-02-11

    House subcommittee offered

  5. 2026-02-11

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

    substitution

  6. 2026-02-13

    Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  7. 2026-02-13

    Committee substitute printed 26107493D-H1

    substitution

  8. 2026-02-15

    Read first time

    reading-1

  9. 2026-02-16

    Read second time

    reading-2

  10. 2026-02-16

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  11. 2026-02-16

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  12. 2026-02-17

    Read third time and passed House (61-Y 36-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  13. 2026-02-18

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  14. 2026-02-18

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    referral-committee

  15. 2026-03-05

    Senate committee offered

  16. 2026-03-05

    Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  17. 2026-03-06

    Committee substitute printed 26109133D-S1

    substitution

  18. 2026-03-09

    Rules suspended

  19. 2026-03-09

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  20. 2026-03-09

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  21. 2026-03-10

    Read third time

    reading-3

  22. 2026-03-10

    Passed by for the day

  23. 2026-03-11

    Floor offered Senator Perry Substitute

  24. 2026-03-11

    Senator Perry Substitute withdrawn

    withdrawal

  25. 2026-03-11

    Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  26. 2026-03-11

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  27. 2026-03-11

    Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  28. 2026-03-11

    Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  29. 2026-03-11

    Floor offered Senator Surovell Amendment

  30. 2026-03-11

    Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

  31. 2026-03-11

    Senator Surovell Amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  32. 2026-03-11

    Engrossed by Senate - substitute with amendment

  33. 2026-03-11

    Passed Senate with substitute with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  34. 2026-03-11

    Read third time

    reading-3

  35. 2026-03-12

    Senate substitute with amendment rejected by House (1-Y 95-N 0-A)

    amendment-failure

  36. 2026-03-12

    Senate insisted on substitute with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    substitution

  37. 2026-03-12

    Senate requested conference committee

    referral-committee

  38. 2026-03-12

    House acceded to request

  39. 2026-03-12

    Conferees appointed by House

  40. 2026-03-12

    House Conferees: Hope, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore

  41. 2026-03-12

    Conferees appointed by Senate

  42. 2026-03-12

    Senate Conferees: Perry, Favola, McDougle

  43. 2026-03-12

    Senate insisted on substitute with amendment

    substitution

  44. 2026-03-14

    No further action taken

  45. 2026-03-14

    Failed to Pass from conference

  46. 2026-03-14

    Failed to Pass from conference

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-02-11 · pass · 7-3

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Will Davis: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
  • Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

    2026-02-13 · pass · 15-6

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: not voting
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Will Davis: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Justin Pence: no
  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-17 · pass · 60-36

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: not voting
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: no
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no
  • Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

    2026-03-05 · pass · 8-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: not voting
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-09 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • Passage R

    2026-03-11 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • Reconsider R

    2026-03-11 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-12 · fail · 1-95

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: no
    • Bonita G. Anthony: no
    • Alex Q. Askew: no
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: no
    • Katrina Callsen: no
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
    • Betsy B. Carr: no
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: no
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
    • Laura Jane Cohen: no
    • Joshua G. Cole: no
    • Nicole Cole: no
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: no
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: no
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: no
    • Lindsey Dougherty: no
    • Mark C. Downey: no
    • Michael B. Feggans: no
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: no
    • Margaret A. Franklin: no
    • Debra D. Gardner: no
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: no
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: no
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: no
    • Dan I. Helmer: no
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: no
    • Phil M. Hernandez: no
    • Charniele L. Herring: no
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: no
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: no
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: no
    • Amy J. Laufer: no
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: no
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: no
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: no
    • Marty Martinez: no
    • John Chilton McAuliff: not voting
    • Adele Y. McClure: no
    • Garrett McGuire: no
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: not voting
    • Kirk McPike: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: no
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: no
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: no
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: no
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: no
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: no
    • David A. Reid: no
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: no
    • Don Scott: no
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: no
    • Briana D. Sewell: no
    • Irene Shin: no
    • Marcus B. Simon: no
    • Shelly A. Simonds: no
    • JJ Singh: no
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: no
    • Virgil Thornton: no
    • Luke E. Torian: no
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: no
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: no
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: no
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: no
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no
  • Insist & Request R

    2026-03-12 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

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