SB 825 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Vulnerable adults; seizure of property used in connection with/derived from financial exploitation.

Summary

Seizure of moneys or other assets of value used in connection with or derived from financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. Permits a law-enforcement officer, an attorney for the Commonwealth, the Office of the Attorney General, or other interested party to seek a seizure warrant from a judge or petition a court for the seizure of moneys or other assets of value where there is suspected probable cause to conclude that a vulnerable adult is being financially exploited. The bill allows a court, upon motion of the complainant and for good cause shown, to order the release of all moneys or other assets of value. Any remaining moneys or other assets of value may also be released to the owner by the court with the consent of the attorney for the Commonwealth.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2024

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Jan 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 31, 2024 Last action Feb 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute → Senator Favola, Barbara A. Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand who can request asset seizures and clarify how seized funds are handled. The original version only allowed law enforcement officers to seek warrants, while the amendment adds attorneys for the Commonwealth and other interested parties as eligible requesters. Additionally, the amendment changes how seized funds are stored, requiring them to be placed in government-owned interest-bearing accounts, and modifies notification requirements to include the seizure warrant or complaint.

Scope change

Expanded eligibility to include attorneys for the Commonwealth, the Office of the Attorney General, and other interested parties in addition to law enforcement officers.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed who can request asset seizures from only law enforcement officers to include attorneys for the Commonwealth, the Office of the Attorney General, and other interested parties.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that all seized funds must be placed into county-owned, city-owned, or state-owned interest-bearing accounts.

Changed the motion requester for asset release from the attorney for the Commonwealth to the complainant.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified notification requirements to include a copy of the seizure warrant or complaint rather than just the warrant, unless the matter is sealed by the court.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 14, 2025

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 38

Jan 14, 2025

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican18

17 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 0-N)

upper

Dec 31, 2024

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors