SB 689 — Oral threat to kill or to do bodily harm; employees of local or state dept. of social serv. penalty.

+ 2027 SESSION + INTRODUCED+ ENGROSSED + + + 26101814D I SENATE BILL NO.

689 OfferedSenate JanuaryAmendments 14,in 2026[ N] - February 16, 2026 A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-60 of the Code of Virginia, relating to oral threat to kill or to do bodily harm;

T————— RPatron —————Prior Patron—Mulchito OEngrossment—Senator Mulchi ————— Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice D ————— UE Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

N 1.

CG § 18.2-60.

threats of death or E discharge of a firearm on school property;

DR penalties.

O A.

Any person who knowingly communicates, in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or S post on any social media platform, a threat to kill or do bodily injury to a person, regardless of whether the S person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat places such person who isiE the object of the threat, or any member of his family, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury to himself or his family member is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

However, any person who violates this subsectionsubsectionD with the intent to commit an act of terrorism as defined in § 18.2-46.4 is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Any person who communicates a threat orally or in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or S post on any social media platform, to kill or discharge a firearm within or (i) on the grounds or premises ofBof any elementary, middle, or secondary school property;

(ii) at any elementary, middle, or secondary school- 8 sponsored event;

or (iii) on a school bus to any person or persons, regardless of whether the person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat would place the person who is the object of the threat, or is included in the threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a ClassClassS6 6 felony.

B 3.

Any person 18 years of age or older who communicates a threat in writing, including an electronically 6 transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message such as an email, a text message, or a 9 message or post on any social media platform, to another to kill or to do serious bodily injury to any other E person and makes such threat with the intent to (i) intimidate a civilian population at large;

/ 37 B.

Any person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to (i) any employee of any 38 elementary, middle, or secondary school, while on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored / 39 activity or;

or (iii) any [ call- center contractor or ] employee of the Department of Social Services or a local department of social services, as those terms are defined in § 63.2-100, who is engaged in the performance of his duties, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.