HB 251 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Assault and battery; creates Class 6 felony for serious bodily injury.

Summary
Assault and battery; serious bodily injury; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony for any person who commits an assault and battery that results in serious bodily injury, as defined in relevant law, but does not rise to the level of the current offenses of unlawful or malicious wounding. The bill adds such new offense to the list of violent felony offenses for the purposes of the discretionary sentencing guidelines.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Last action Feb 13, 2026
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Vivian Watts
Vivian Watts
DDemocratic
VA
14