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SB70Introduced in the Senate

Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit.

Passed

Introduced by Barbara Favola, District 40

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit. Provides that at any point prior to the commencement of an adjudication hearing on a petition alleging that a child is delinquent, the court, upon request of the child with consent of the attorney for the Commonwealth, if a party to the case, may refer the delinquency charge back to the court service unit in writing and the intake officer shall proceed informally pursuant to relevant law. Additionally, the bill provides that upon such referral, the court shall dismiss the petition and order that the court records pertaining to the petition be expunged pursuant to relevant law. Lastly, the bill allows an intake officer to proceed informally on a complaint alleging a child is in need of services, in need of supervision, or delinquent if the juvenile has previously been proceeded against informally. Current law does not permit proceeding informally when a juvenile (i) commits a violent juvenile felony or (ii) is alleged delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult if such juvenile had previously been (a) proceeded against informally by intake or (b) adjudicated delinquent for a prior offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Commission on Youth. This bill is identical to HB 438.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0614)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: House substitute with amendment agreed to by Senate · February 25, 2026

39

Yes

0

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2Absent
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101683D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Courts of Justice Substitute

  4. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

  5. Committee substitute printed 26105830D-S1

  6. Rules suspended

  7. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  8. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  9. Passed by for the day

  10. Read second time

  11. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  12. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  13. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  14. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  15. Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB70)

  17. Placed on Calendar

  18. Read first time

  19. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  20. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  21. Committee substitute printed 26108198D-H1

  22. Read second time

  23. Floor offered Delegate LeVere Bolling Amendment

  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB70)

  25. Read third time

  26. committee substitute agreed to

  27. Delegate LeVere Bolling Floor amendment agreed to

  28. Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended

  29. Passed House with substitute with amendment (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  30. House substitute with amendment agreed to by Senate

  31. Enrolled

  32. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB70ER)

  33. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB70)

  34. Signed by Speaker

  35. Signed by President

  36. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB70)

  37. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  38. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  39. Approved by Governor-Chapter 614 (effective 7/1/2026)

  40. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0614)

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