HB 295 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Aggravated murder; adds correctional officers to definition, punishment.

Summary
Aggravated murder defined; correctional officers; punishment. Adds to the definition of aggravated murder, which is a Class 1 felony, the willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of a correctional officer, defined in relevant law, when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties. The bill also provides that where the offender was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense, the punishment shall be no less than a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life.
Bill status died 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 Feb 25, 2026
Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

757
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 87
Feb 17, 2026
D Democratic52
41 Yea 7 Nay 4
78% Yea
R Republican35
34 Yea 1
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
3
Committee
6
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (7-Y 8-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 (87-Y 7-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 7, 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