HB273Introduced in the House of Delegates
Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb, civil immunity.
Introduced by Dan Helmer, District 10
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb; civil immunity. Provides that a law-enforcement officer, while engaged in the performance of his duties, has a duty to render aid to any person that he observes suffering from a serious bodily injury or life-threatening condition, as circumstances objectively permit and provided that such aid may be rendered without endangering the law-enforcement officer, the person, or others. The bill also immunizes a law-enforcement officer from civil liability for any personal injury or wrongful death resulting from such rendering or withholding of such aid absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. The bill directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to adopt regulations to provide law-enforcement officers with basic medical training, including emergency first aid training.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0583)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) · March 12, 2026
62
Yes
35
No
2
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104658D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB273)
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 6-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Senate committee offered
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 4-N)
Committee substitute printed 26109443D-S1
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB273)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB273ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB273)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 583 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0583)
Verify the information
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