HB489Introduced in the House of Delegates
Restorative justice practices; definitions, effect of participation, immunity from civil liability.
Introduced by Patrick Hope, District 1
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official 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.
Where it stands
Failed to Pass from conference
March 14, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate insisted on substitute with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 12, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105104D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107493D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (61-Y 36-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 (8-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26109133D-S1
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
Passed by for the day
Floor offered Senator Perry Substitute
Senator Perry Substitute withdrawn
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Floor offered Senator Surovell Amendment
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
Senator Surovell Amendment agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - substitute with amendment
Passed Senate with substitute with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Read third time
Senate substitute with amendment rejected by House (1-Y 95-N 0-A)
Senate insisted on substitute with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate requested conference committee
House acceded to request
Conferees appointed by House
House Conferees: Hope, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore
Conferees appointed by Senate
Senate Conferees: Perry, Favola, McDougle
Senate insisted on substitute with amendment
No further action taken
Failed to Pass from conference
Failed to Pass from conference
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