Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 334 — Plea agreements and court orders; prohibited provisions.

Last action — Passed by for the day

  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 09, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 07, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · 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.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

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.

Summary

Plea agreements; prohibited provisions. Prohibits plea agreements and court orders executed or entered on or after July 1, 2024, from containing any provision that purports to waive, release, or extinguish a defendant's (i) rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of Virginia; (ii) right to file a petition requesting expungement of the police records and the court records; or (iii) right to have criminal history record information and court records sealed. The bill provides that any such prohibited provision of a plea agreement or court order is void and unenforceable as against public policy.The bill provides that such prohibition does not apply to any plea agreements, written agreements, or court orders entered into by a defendant and the Commonwealth (a) as a condition for participation in a specialty docket or (b) in a case involving a sexual offense where the victim is under 18 years of age.The bill further provides that any waiver, release, or extinguishment of rights under the Fourth Amendment permissible by law shall be no longer than the period of supervised probation or post-release supervision imposed against the defendant; if the defendant is not placed on supervised probation or post-release supervision, it shall be no longer than the period of suspension of sentence or post-release incarceration imposed against such defendant.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

26 added · 39 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 334 clarify what rights cannot be waived in plea agreements and court orders. Specifically, it now explicitly prohibits waiving rights under the Fourth Amendment, including the right to seal criminal history information and court records. This is important because it helps protect individuals' constitutional rights, ensuring that they cannot be forced to give up significant legal protections in exchange for plea deals. Overall, these amendments strengthen legal safeguards for defendants in Virginia’s criminal justice system.

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SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 24108134D SENATE BILL NO.
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-254.01, relating to pleaN agreements and court orders;
334 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by thon February 23, 2024) Courts of Justice (Patron Prior to Substitute––Senator Salim) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-254.01, relating to plea Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:.
prohibited provisions.
1.
R O [S 334] Approved L L 1.
§ 19.2-254.01.
E § 19.2-254.01.
No plea agreement or court order executed or entered on or after July 1, 2024, shall contain any Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of Virginia;
No plea agreement or court order executed or entered on or after July 1, 2024, shall contain any provision that purports to waive, release, or extinguish a defendant's (i) rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of Virginia;
(ii) right to file a petition requesting expungement of the police records and the court records;
right to have criminal history record information and court records sealed.and the court records;
or (iii) right to have criminal history record information and court records sealed.
or (iii) B.
B.
Any provision of a plea agreement or court order that is prohibited by subsection A is void and unenforceable as against public policy.
Any provision of a plea agreement or court order that is prohibited by subsection A is void and uneC.
C.
The prohibition against waiving, releasing, or extinguishing rights under the Fourth Amendment under clause (i) of subsection A shall not apply to any plea agreement, written agreement, or court order that may be entered into by a defendant and the Commonwealth (i) as a condition for S participation in a specialty docket as authorized pursuant to Rule 1:25 of the Rules of the Supreme of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 where the victim is under 18 years of age.lation of Article 7 (§ 18.E-61 et seq.) D.
The prohibition against waiving, releasing, or extinguishing rights under the Fourth AmenBment order that may be entered into by a defendant and the Commonwealth (i) as a condition for, or c3urt participation in a specialty docket as authorized pursuant to Rule 1:25 of the Rules of the SupEeme Court of Virginia or (ii) in a case involving a sexual offense in violation of Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 where the victim is under 18 years of age.
Any such waiver, release, or extinguishment of rights under the Fourth Amendment permissible pursuant to subsection C shall be no longer than the period of supervised probation or post-release supervision imposed against the defendant.
D.
If the defendant is not placed on supervised probatiSn or shall be no longer than the period of suspension of sentence or post-release incarceration imposedment against such defendant.
Any such waiver, release, or extinguishment of rights under the Fourth Amendment permissible supervision imposed against the defendant.
B S T I T / U / T E S H 1
If the defendant is not placed on supervised probation or post-release supervision, such waiver, release, or extinguishment of rights under the Fourth Amendment shall be no longer than the period of suspension of sentence or post-release incarceration imposed against such defendant.
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. Passed by for the day

  2. Vetoed by Governor

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB334ER)

  8. Enrolled

  9. Title replaced 24108134D-H1

  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N)

  11. VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N)

  12. Passed House with substitute (51-Y 49-N)

  13. Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB334H1

  14. Committee substitute agreed to 24108134D-H1

  15. Read third time

  16. Read second time

  17. Committee substitute printed 24108134D-H1

  18. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (11-Y 10-N)

  19. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N)

  20. Assigned Courts sub: Criminal

  21. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  22. Read first time

  23. Placed on Calendar

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

  25. Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)

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

  27. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB334S1

  28. Committee substitute agreed to 24107679D-S1

  29. Reading of substitute waived

  30. Read second time

  31. Committee substitute printed 24107679D-S1

  32. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (6-Y 4-N)

  33. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  34. Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name

  35. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  36. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103710D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 69 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"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

Passed 21 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211900
Total 211900
% of votes cast 53%48%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N)

Passed 50 Yea · 49 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 504900
Total 504900
% of votes cast 51%49%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Passed 11 Yea · 10 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 111001
Total 111001
% of votes cast 50%45%0%5%
How each member voted (22)

Official roll call →

Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)

Passed 21 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211900
Total 211900
% of votes cast 53%48%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 6 Yea · 4 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6405
Total 6405
% of votes cast 40%27%0%33%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Not Voting
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Not Voting
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Not Voting
Russet Perry — Nay
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Not Voting
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 334 do?
Plea agreements; prohibited provisions. Prohibits plea agreements and court orders executed or entered on or after July 1, 2024, from containing any provision that purports to waive, release, or extinguish a defendant's (i) rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of Virginia; (ii) right to file a petition requesting expungement of the police records and the court records; or (iii) right to have criminal history record information and court records sealed. The bill provides that any such prohibited provision of a plea agreement or court order is void and unenforceable as against public policy.The bill provides that such prohibition does not apply to any plea agreements, written agreements, or court orders entered into by a defendant and the Commonwealth (a) as a condition for participation in a specialty docket or (b) in a case involving a sexual offense where the victim is under 18 years of age.The bill further provides that any waiver, release, or extinguishment of rights under the Fourth Amendment permissible by law shall be no longer than the period of supervised probation or post-release supervision imposed against the defendant; if the defendant is not placed on supervised probation or post-release supervision, it shall be no longer than the period of suspension of sentence or post-release incarceration imposed against such defendant.
Who sponsors SB 334?
SB 334 is sponsored by Saddam Azlan Salim and Jennifer D. Carroll Foy.
What is the current status of SB 334?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 334?
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