SB 1146 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Juveniles; possession or use of tobacco or vape products on school grounds, etc., civil penalties.

Summary
Persons under 21 years of age; possession or use of tobacco products or vape products on school grounds, etc.; civil penalties. Prohibits any person under 21 years of age from possessing a tobacco product on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity. The bill requires that each local school board implement an educational rehabilitation program for a first violation. The bill permits a law-enforcement officer to issue a summons upon a second violation within a single school year and requires a court to order up to eight hours of community service. Upon a third violation within a single school year, the bill adds a civil penalty of up to $50. For a fourth or subsequent violation within a single school year, the bill requires punishment include a civil penalty of up to $50 or up to eight hours of community service. Additionally, the bill requires that the civil penalty be paid in person at the courthouse for the locality by such person accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, unless such person is 18 years of age or older and not enrolled at the school where the offense occurred. The bill directs the Board of Education and local school boards to amend any affected policies by July 1, 2026.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Last action Feb 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Courts of Justice Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from its original introduced version to a Senate substitute version. The original bill focused on prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors, while the substitute version adds a new section specifically addressing juvenile possession and use of tobacco products on school property. The substitute version provides more detailed civil penalties and community service requirements for school-related violations.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from primarily regulating tobacco sales to minors to also explicitly address possession and use of tobacco products by minors on school grounds, school buses, and at school-sponsored activities.
SCOPE

Added a new section 18.2-371.2:1 specifically prohibiting possession or use of tobacco products by persons under 21 on school property, school buses, and at school-sponsored activities.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a tiered civil penalty system with community service requirements: first violation has no penalty, second violation requires up to 8 hours community service, third violation adds up to $50 civil penalty, and fourth or subsequent violations allow choice between civil penalty or community service.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that parents or legal guardians must accompany minors under 18 to all court proceedings related to violations.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that parents or legal guardians are not required to accompany minors who are 18 or older and not enrolled at the school where the offense occurred.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 24, 2025

How they voted

370
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 40
Jan 24, 2025
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
17 Yea 2
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Timmy French
Timmy French
RRepublican
VA
1