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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 273: Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb, civil immunity.

Enacted 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 273 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb, civil immunity. Primary sponsor: Dan Helmer (Democratic). It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0583).

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.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Dan HelmerPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse10
Katrina CallsenCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse54
Phil HernandezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse94
Patrick HopeCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse1

“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. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0583)
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 583 (effective 7/1/2026)
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB273)
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
  6. Signed by Speaker
  7. Signed by President
  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB273ER)
  9. Enrolled
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
  11. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
  12. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

Showing 12 most recent of 32 actions. Full history

Sources

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