Virginia HB 1162: State correctional facilities; required education or vocational training.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26103663D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1162

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 53.1-32.2 and 53.1-202.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to state correctional facilities; required education or vocational training; earned sentence credit classification levels.

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Patrons—Walker, Ballard, Cherry, Cornett, Davis, Fowler, Hamilton, Hodges, Kilgore, Leftwich, McLaughlin, Morefield, Oates, Pence, Phillips, Runion, Tata, Wachsmann, Webert, Whittle, Wiley, Williams, Wilt and Wright

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Referred to Committee on Public Safety

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 53.1-32.2 and 53.1-202.3 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 53.1-32.2. Reentry planning.

The Department shall develop and implement, in cooperation with and taking into account the individual needs and willingness to participate of the inmate, a comprehensive reentry plan for each person committed to the supervision of the Department, as soon as practicable, considering the prisoner's anticipated release date. Such plan shall identify educational, vocational, therapeutic, and other programs necessary to prepare the person for successful transition from prison to society upon the person's discharge and shall include mentor pairing to the extent possible. The Department shall coordinate any reentry programs provided through the Department pursuant to the reentry plan with any other reentry or other relevant programs offered by any public or private organization or entity at the local, state, or federal level, which are also included in the plan. Any such reentry plan shall require that a prisoner complete a high school equivalency test or a vocational, technical, or other trade certification, as applicable.

§ 53.1-202.3. Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites.

A. A maximum of 4.5 sentence credits may be earned for each 30 days served on a sentence for a conviction for any offense of:

1. A Class 1 felony;

2. Solicitation to commit murder under § 18.2-29 or any violation of § 18.2-32, 18.2-32.1, 18.2-32.2, or 18.2-33;

3. Any violation of § 18.2-40 or 18.2-45;

4. Any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-46.5, of subsection D of § 18.2-46.5 if the death of any person results from providing any material support, or of subsection A of § 18.2-46.6;

5. Any kidnapping or abduction felony under Article 3 (§ 18.2-47 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;

6. Any malicious felonious assault or malicious bodily wounding under Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, any violation of § 18.2-51.6 or 18.2-51.7, or any felony violation of § 18.2-57.2;

7. Any felony violation of § 18.2-60.3;

8. Any felony violation of § 16.1-253.2 or 18.2-60.4;

9. Robbery under § 18.2-58 or carjacking under § 18.2-58.1;

10. Criminal sexual assault punishable as a felony under Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;

11. Any violation of § 18.2-90;

12. Any violation of § 18.2-289 or subsection A of § 18.2-300;

13. Any felony offense in Article 3 (§ 18.2-346 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2;

14. Any felony offense in Article 4 (§ 18.2-362 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, except for a violation of § 18.2-362 or subsection B or C of § 18.2-371.1;

15. Any felony offense in Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, except for a violation of subsection A of § 18.2-374.1:1;

16. Any violation of subsection F of § 3.2-6570, any felony violation of § 18.2-128, or any violation of § 18.2-481, 37.2-917, 37.2-918, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103; or

17. A second or subsequent violation of the following offenses, in any combination, when such offenses were not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme and such person has been at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction:

a. Any felony violation of § 3.2-6571;

b. Voluntary manslaughter under Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;

c. Any violation of § 18.2-41 or felony violation of § 18.2-42.1;

d. Any violation of subsection B, C, or D of § 18.2-46.5 or § 18.2-46.7;

e. Any violation of § 18.2-51 when done unlawfully but not maliciously, § 18.2-51.1 when done unlawfully but not maliciously, or § 18.2-54.1 or 18.2-54.2;

f. Arson in violation of § 18.2-77 when the structure burned was occupied or a Class 3 felony violation of § 18.2-79;

g. Any violation of § 18.2-89 or 18.2-92;

h. Any violation of subsection A of § 18.2-374.1:1;

i. Any violation of § 18.2-423, 18.2-423.01, 18.2-423.1, 18.2-423.2, or 18.2-433.2; or

j. Any violation of subdivision E 2 of § 40.1-29.

The earning of sentence credits shall be conditioned, in part, upon full participation in and cooperation with programs to which a person is assigned pursuant to § 53.1-32.1.

B. For any offense other than those enumerated in subsection A for which sentence credits may be earned, earned sentence credits shall be awarded and calculated usi