Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 240: Admission to bail; fixing terms of bail, mental health considerations.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 240 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 8, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Admission to bail; fixing terms of bail, mental health considerations. Primary sponsor: Debra Gardner (Democratic). It lists 6 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 11, 2026): Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Admission to bail; fixing terms of bail; mental health considerations. Requires the judicial officer, prior to conducting any hearing on the issue of bail, release, or detention, to obtain the person's criminal history and any emergency custody or temporary detention order or involuntary admission issued for such person. The bill also requires the judicial officer to consider any emergency custody or temporary detention order or involuntary admission issued for the person when determining admission to bail. Lastly, the bill requires the judicial officer to take into account the following factors in fixing the terms of bail if such person is admitted to bail: (i) whether the person is likely to obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice, or threaten, injure, or intimidate, or attempt to threaten, injure, or intimidate a family or household member as defined in relevant law; (ii) the history of the accused or juvenile, including medical, mental health, including any emergency custody or temporary detention order or involuntary admission issued pursuant to relevant law, or substance abuse treatment; (iii) any evidence the person provided indicating that such person (a) is currently pregnant, (b) has recently given birth, or (c) is currently nursing a child; and (iv) whether such person will be an unreasonable danger to himself, family or household members as defined in relevant law, or the public.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Gardner | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 76 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Nicole Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 66 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Rod Willett | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 58 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
- House subcommittee offered
- Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB240)
- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103796D