Victims of sex trafficking; immunity for minors to arrest or prosecution for prostitution.
Summary
Victims of sex trafficking; minors; immunity to prosecution for prostitution. Provides that no minor shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for a qualifying offense, defined in relevant law, if at the time of the offense leading to such charge, such minor was a victim of sex trafficking, defined in relevant law. The bill also provides that such minor shall be referred to the local department of social services for a human trafficking or other assessment pursuant to relevant law and a law-enforcement officer or the local department of social services may take custody of such minor. Lastly, the bill provides that no law-enforcement officer acting in good faith shall be found liable for false arrest if it is later determined that the minor arrested was immune from prosecution.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Criminal Subcommittee Substitute
→
Chaptered
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill finalizes the text of a substitute amendment regarding immunity for minors charged with sex trafficking offenses. The primary change is the addition of a specific condition: a minor is now only immune from arrest or prosecution if they were a victim of sex trafficking at the time of the offense, rather than being automatically immune for any qualifying charge. This change narrows the scope of protection to ensure it applies only to victims, not to minors who may have voluntarily engaged in the activity.
Scope change
The scope of immunity was narrowed from applying to all minors charged with specific prostitution-related offenses to applying only to minors who were victims of sex trafficking at the time of the offense.
ELIGIBILITY
Added a mandatory condition that a minor must be a victim of sex trafficking at the time of the offense to qualify for immunity from arrest or prosecution.
REQUIREMENT
Updated the referral process to require an assessment for human trafficking or other issues pursuant to a specific state code section.
ENFORCEMENT
Granted explicit authority for law enforcement and social services to take custody of the minor pursuant to a specific state code section.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 20, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
34
Key actions
12
Committee
6
Amendments
3
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 577 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB191ER)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendment agreed to by House (96-Y 1-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kelly Fowler
DDemocratic
Co
Destiny LeVere Bolling
DDemocratic
Co
Karen Keys-Gamarra
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 191
Scope: VA
Hi! I can help you understand HB 191. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline