Child victims and witnesses; using two-way closed-circuit television.
Summary
Child victims and witnesses using two-way closed-circuit television or other securely encrypted two-way audio and video technology; standard. Allows the court to order that the testimony of a child be taken by two-way closed-circuit television or other securely encrypted two-way audio and video technology if it finds that the child is unavailable to testify in open court in the presence of the defendant, the jury, the judge, and the public if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, based upon expert opinion testimony, that the child will suffer at least moderate emotional trauma that is more than nervousness or excitement or some reluctance to testify as a result of testifying in the defendant's presence and not in the courtroom generally where such trauma would impair the child's ability to communicate.Under current law, the court may order such testimony be taken by two-way closed-circuit television if it finds that (i) the child has a substantial inability to communicate about the offense or (ii) there is a substantial likelihood, based upon expert opinion testimony, that the child will suffer severe emotional trauma from so testifying.The bill also extends the application window for the party seeking such order from seven to 14 days before the trial date or such other preliminary proceeding to which such order is to apply.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 4, 2025
Signed Mar 21, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Appropriations Substitute
→
Chaptered
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends Virginia law regarding how child victims and witnesses can testify in criminal cases using closed-circuit television. The main changes increase the notice period required before hearings from seven days to 14 days, modify the trauma standard for allowing remote testimony, and update formatting for the official code.
Scope change
The bill applies to the same types of criminal cases involving child victims (kidnapping, sexual assault, trafficking, family offenses, and murder) but modifies procedural requirements for requesting remote testimony.
TIMELINE
Increased the advance notice required to request remote testimony from seven days to 14 days before the trial date or preliminary proceeding.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the trauma standard from 'severe at least moderate emotional trauma' to requiring that trauma be 'more than nervousness or excitement or some reluctance to testify' and must impair the child's ability to communicate.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill's formatting to reflect its status as a chaptered act with official approval date and proper code section layout.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025 · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2025
How they voted
40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Feb 13, 2025
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
40
Key actions
13
Committee
9
Amendments
4
Mar 21, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 191 (Effective 07/01/25)
executive
Feb 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1728ER)
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Amendments agreed to by House (92-Y 4-N)
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (32-Y 4-N)
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendments waived
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (89-Y 10-N)
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 18, 2025
Committee
Assigned Approps sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations (19-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 15, 2025
Committee
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referred to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Karrie Delaney
DDemocratic
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