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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 251: Assault and battery; creates Class 6 felony for serious bodily injury.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 251 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 8, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Assault and battery; creates Class 6 felony for serious bodily injury. Primary sponsor: Vivian Watts (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 13, 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.

Assault and battery; serious bodily injury; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony for any person who commits an assault and battery that results in serious bodily injury, as defined in relevant law, but does not rise to the level of the current offenses of unlawful or malicious wounding. The bill adds such new offense to the list of violent felony offenses for the purposes of the discretionary sentencing guidelines.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Vivian WattsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse14

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
  2. Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
  3. Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB251)
  5. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/9/2026 11:01 am)
  6. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
  7. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102460D

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source