Virginia 2023 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 928 — Relief; Haas, Michael.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0012)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 16, 2023.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 6 recorded votes so far — a real headwind.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

61 added · 59 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill SB 928 clarify the circumstances surrounding Michael Haas's wrongful conviction. The updated version emphasizes that both of Mr. Haas's sons recanted their testimonies shortly after the trial and that additional evidence revealed their initial accusations were coerced by their mother and counselor. This change is significant because it strengthens the case for Mr. Haas's exoneration and highlights the importance of reliable evidence in wrongful incarceration cases.

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SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act for the relief of Michael Haas, relating to claims;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2023 SESSION CHAPTER 12 An Act for the relief of Michael Haas, relating to claims;
R [S 928] O Approved L Whereas, Michael Haas (Mr.
[S 928] Approved March 16, 2023 Whereas, Michael Haas (Mr.
Haas) was convicted in the Circuit Court of Powhatan County on JuLy 22, 1994, of the felony offenses of forcibly sodomizing his two sons, crimes that he did not commit;
Haas) was convicted in the Circuit Court of Powhatan County on July 22, 1994, of the felony offenses of forcibly sodomizing his two sons, crimes that he did not commit;
and E Whereas, Mr.
and Whereas, Mr.
Haas was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment, to be served concurrentlyDfor sucWhereas, Mr.
Haas was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment, to be served concurrently for such conviction;
and Whereas, Mr.
Haas's sons testified at his trial that he sexually abused them on multiple occasions and forensic evidence presented at the time substantiated such claims;
Haas's sons testified at his trial that he sexually abused them on multiple occasions and forWhereas, both sons of Mr.
and Whereas, both sons of Mr.
and B Whereas, Mr.
and Whereas, Mr.
Haas secured the assistance of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project beginning in 2014 to invWhereas, Mr.
Haas secured the assistance of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project beginning in 2014 to investigate his case;
Haas was released from prison on December 19, 2017, placed on parole, and was E required to register as a sex offender;
and Whereas, Mr.
and R Whereas, the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project obtained further recanting affidavits from Mr.
Haas was released from prison on December 19, 2017, placed on parole, and was required to register as a sex offender;
and Whereas, the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project obtained further recanting affidavits from Mr.
HaaWhereas, Mr.
Haas's sons evidenced no indicia of abuse;
Hass pursued a writ of actual innocence in the Virginia Court of Appeals on July 30, 2020;
and Whereas, Mr.
Haas pursued a writ of actual innocence in the Virginia Court of Appeals on July 30, 2020;
and freedom and countless life experiences and opportunities, including family relations, the opportunity to further his education, and the opportunity to earn potential income from gainful employment during his years of incarceration;
Haas, as a result of his wrongful incarceration, lost 23 years and six months of his freedom and countless life experiences and opportunities, including family relations, the opportunity to further his education, and the opportunity to earn potential income from gainful employment during his years of incarceration;
and Whereas, Mr.
That there is hereby appropriated from the general fund of the state treasury the sum of $1,530,653 for the relief of Michael Haas, to be paid by check issued by the State Treasurer on warrant Commonwealth or any agency, instrumentality, office, employee, or political subdivision in connection with the aforesaid occurrence.
That there is hereby appropriated from the general fund of the state treasury the sum of $1,530,653 for the relief of Michael Haas, to be paid by check issued by the State Treasurer on warrant of the Comptroller upon execution of a release of all claims Mr.
Haas may have against the Commonwealth or any agency, instrumentality, office, employee, or political subdivision in connection with the aforesaid occurrence.
Haas as a transition assistance grant pursuant pursuant to § 1 of this act.5.11 of the Code of Virginia shall be deducted from any award received § 3.
Haas as a transition assistance grant pursuant to subsection D of § 8.01-195.11 of the Code of Virginia shall be deducted from any award received pursuant to § 1 of this act.
§ 3.
Haas shall be entitled to receive career and technical training within the Virginia of 2 Community College System free of tuition charges, up to a maximum of $10,000.
Haas shall be entitled to receive career and technical training within the Virginia Community College System free of tuition charges, up to a maximum of $10,000.
The tuition benefit provided by this section shall expire on January 1, 2027.
The tuition of 2 benefit provided by this section shall expire on January 1, 2027.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0012)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 12 (effective 7/1/23)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 27, 2023

  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 2, 2023

  5. Impact statement from DPB (SB928ER)

  6. Signed by President

  7. Signed by Speaker

  8. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB928ER)

  9. Enrolled

  10. VOTE: Passage (98-Y 0-N)

  11. Passed House (98-Y 0-N)

  12. Read third time

  13. Passed by for the day

  14. Passed by for the day

  15. Read second time

  16. Reported from Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)

  17. Assigned App. sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  18. Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  19. Read first time

  20. Placed on Calendar

  21. Impact statement from DPB (SB928E)

  22. Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

  24. Printed as engrossed 23100142D-E

  25. Engrossed by Senate as amended SB928E

  26. Committee amendments agreed to

  27. Reading of amendments waived

  28. Read second time

  29. Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

  30. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (14-Y 0-N)

  31. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  32. Impact statement from DPB (SB928)

  33. Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

  34. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/23 23100142D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety healthcare labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 928?
SB 928 is sponsored by Ghazala F. Hashmi.
What is the current status of SB 928?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 928?
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