HB 2252: Decreasing probation period; criteria for mandatory reduction, effective clause, report. - Virginia

Governor Substitute → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill converted a House substitute version into a chaptered law, meaning it became official legislation. The substantive policy content of the probation reduction provisions remains unchanged, though the formatting and presentation were updated to match official legislative format. The law includes a sunset provision requiring reenactment in 2026 and establishes a work group to review community supervision practices.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same - it applies to defendants on supervised probation in Virginia, with specific exemptions for those sentenced to mandatory three-year probation periods or those under local community-based probation services.

TECHNICAL

Changed document type from 'House Substitute' to 'Chaptered' status, indicating the bill has been enacted into law

Updated formatting and layout to match official Virginia Acts of Assembly chapter format

TIMELINE

Added sunset provision requiring the law to be reenacted by the 2026 General Assembly session to remain in effect

REQUIREMENT

Established a work group to review community supervision practices and submit recommendations by November 1, 2025

Conference Substitute → Governor Substitute · 11 edits

MAJOR

The bill was changed from a House Substitute to a Governor Substitute, which altered the formatting and page layout significantly. The substantive policy content regarding probation reduction criteria remained largely the same, though some specific language was modified to clarify technical violations and standardize credit reduction amounts.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on decreasing probation periods for defendants who meet specific criteria like education, employment, and treatment compliance.

TECHNICAL

The document formatting changed from a House Substitute to a Governor Substitute, with updated page numbers and layout adjustments.

REQUIREMENT

Subsection C was reorganized to clarify that credits do not accrue during any calendar month where the defendant is found in violation of probation, including technical violations as defined in § 19.2-306.1.

The probation reduction credit amounts were standardized to 15 days for all five categories (education, employment, treatment, health insurance, and housing) in each six-month period, whereas the House Substitute had varying amounts (30 days for education and treatment, 15 days for others).

Subsection E regarding quarterly calculations by probation officers and verification methods was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

Subsection F regarding court discharge procedures when probation time is served was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

Subsection G exempting certain persons sentenced under § 19.2-303.3 from the provisions was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

Subsection H prohibiting probation reduction for court-ordered treatment participation was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

Subsection I regarding the court's ability to reduce probation under other laws was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

The requirement for the Department of Corrections to submit a report by November 1, 2025, to stakeholders and the General Assembly was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

ENFORCEMENT

Subsection D regarding hearings and revocation of credits due to imminent threat to health and safety was removed in the Governor Substitute version.

TIMELINE

The sunset provision in Section 2 was removed in the Governor Substitute version, eliminating the requirement for reenactment by the 2026 Session.

Courts of Justice Substitute → Conference Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a Senate Substitute to a Conference Substitute, which typically means it has been reconciled with the House version. The substantive changes reduce the number of days probation is reduced for completing educational activities, employment, and health insurance maintenance from 60/30 days to 30/15 days respectively. A new subsection D was added in the House version that was not present in the Senate version, though the full text of this new subsection is not visible in the provided diff.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced probation reduction credits: educational activities now reduce probation by 30 days instead of 60 days, employment by 15 days instead of 30 days, mental health treatment by 30 days (unchanged), health insurance by 15 days instead of 30 days, and residency by 30 days (unchanged).

Added new subsection D in the House version that was not present in the Senate version, though the complete text of this new provision is not fully visible in the provided diff.

TECHNICAL

Changed document type from Senate Substitute to Conference Substitute, indicating the bill has been reconciled between legislative chambers.

Reenrolled → Courts of Justice Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a House version to a Senate substitute version, significantly increasing the number of days probation can be reduced for meeting requirements. The original House bill allowed 15 days of credit per six-month period for each qualifying activity, while the Senate version increases this to 30-60 days depending on the activity. Additionally, the Senate version adds an exception allowing credits during technical violations if the probation officer finds compelling reasons, and removes the requirement for a work group report.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same (applying to supervised probation), but the benefits and conditions for receiving probation credit have been substantially expanded.

REQUIREMENT

Increased probation reduction credits from 15 days to 30-60 days per six-month period depending on the qualifying activity

Added exception allowing probation credits during technical violations if the probation officer determines there are compelling reasons

Removed the requirement for a work group to submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the language regarding when courts can reduce probation to include 'and in the interests of justice'

Enrolled → Reenrolled · 6 edits · Apr 2, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reenrolled with significant substantive changes to probation reduction criteria. The most important changes include reducing the number of days probation is reduced for each qualifying activity from 30-15 days across the board, adding specific language about technical violations in the credit accrual section, and modifying the revocation hearing standard from 'imminent threat' to 'any reason the court deems necessary.' The bill also adds a requirement for complete restitution payment before probation discharge and removes the exception for persons sentenced under § 19.2-303.3.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on § 19.2-304 of the Code of Virginia regarding probation period adjustments, but the applicability of credit accrual and discharge conditions has been narrowed and modified.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced probation reduction credits from 30 days to 15 days for educational activities, mental health/substance abuse treatment, and all other qualifying activities.

Changed revocation hearing standard from requiring 'imminent threat' to allowing revocation for 'any reason the court deems necessary and in the interest of the health and safety of the public.'

Added requirement that defendants must complete payment of restitution before probation can be discharged.

Added specific reference to technical violations in the credit accrual rules, preventing credit during violation months unless compelling reasons exist.

Removed the exception that excluded persons sentenced under § 19.2-303.3 from probation reduction provisions.

Changed discharge conditions from 'nonmonetary conditions' to include 'complete payment of any restitution' as a requirement.

Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 2, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized from its engrossed version to enrolled status, making it ready for the Governor's signature. The most significant substantive change is that the probation reduction credits were decreased across the board: educational activities now reduce probation by 30 days (from 60), employment by 15 days (from 30), treatment programs by 30 days (from 60), health insurance by 15 days (from 30), and housing by 15 days (from 30). Additionally, a new subsection was added allowing the court to revoke earned credits if a defendant poses an imminent threat to health or safety. The effective date of July 1, 2026 was removed from the enrolled version.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same - it applies to defendants on supervised probation under § 19.2-304, excluding those sentenced under § 19.2-303.3 and local community-based probation services agencies.

REQUIREMENT

Probation reduction credit amounts were decreased for all five qualifying activities (education, employment, treatment, health insurance, and housing) to reduce the maximum time saved per six-month period.

ENFORCEMENT

New provision allows the court to revoke earned probation credits upon motion by the Commonwealth if the defendant poses an imminent threat to health or safety.

TIMELINE

The effective date of July 1, 2026 was removed from the enrolled version, which is standard practice as the final version typically does not include effective dates.

TECHNICAL

Removed engrossed version metadata including bill number, committee referral, delegate name, and amendment dates; replaced with enrolled version formatting including approval status and chapter designation.

Introduced → Engrossed · 3 edits · Mar 7, 2025

MINOR

The bill text underwent significant formatting and layout changes between the introduced and engrossed versions, but the substantive policy content regarding probation period reductions remains unchanged. The engrossed version includes additional spacing, page markers, and a 'House Amendments' date stamp, while the core provisions about reducing probation for education, employment, treatment compliance, health insurance, and housing stay identical.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; the text represents a formatting update from introduced to engrossed status.

TECHNICAL

Added formatting elements including page numbers, session labels, and amendment date stamps that were not present in the original introduced version.

Reorganized layout with additional spacing and alignment changes typical of legislative printing processes.

Removed introductory metadata lines such as 'Offered January 13, 2025' and 'Prefiled January 7, 2025' which are standard introduced version markers.

Decreasing probation period; criteria for mandatory reduction, effective clause, report.

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