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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 295: Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment.

Passed one chamber 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 295 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment. Primary sponsor: Mitchell Cornett (Republican). Most recent recorded action (February 25, 2026): Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (7-Y 8-N).

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.

Aggravated murder defined; correctional officers; punishment. Adds to the definition of aggravated murder, which is a Class 1 felony, the willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of a correctional officer, defined in relevant law, when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties. The bill also provides that where the offender was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense, the punishment shall be no less than a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Mitchell CornettPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse46

“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. Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (7-Y 8-N)
  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
  3. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
  4. Read third time and passed House (87-Y 7-N 0-A)
  5. Read second time and engrossed
  6. Read first time
  7. Reported from Courts of Justice (13-Y 8-N)
  8. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
  9. Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB295)
  11. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/15/2026 1:16 pm)
  12. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:03 am)

Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history

Sources

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