HB 294 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Malicious bodily injury to correctional officers; penalties.

Summary
Malicious bodily injury to correctional officers; penalties. Provides that if any person maliciously causes bodily injury to another by any means, including the means set out in existing law, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill, and knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a correctional officer, as defined in relevant law, engaged in the performance of his public duties as a correctional officer, such person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than five years nor more than 30 years and, subject to existing law, a fine of not more than $100,000; upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years. The bill also provides that if any person unlawfully, but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid, causes bodily injury to another by any means, knowing or having reason to know such other person is a correctional officer engaged in the performance of his public duties as a correctional officer, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony, and upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Mar 4, 2026
Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

768
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 87
Feb 17, 2026
D Democratic52
43 Yea 8 Nay 1
82% Yea
R Republican35
33 Yea 2
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (88-Y 8-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (13-Y 8-N)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mitchell Cornett
Mitchell Cornett
RRepublican
VA
46