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HB34 • 2026

Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer; feasibility of establishing position.

An Act to direct the Department of Military Affairs to assess the feasibility of and develop recommendations related to establishing a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer position within the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program to perform victim advocacy services; report.

Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Cole, J.G.
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify if the new officer position will actually be created after the study, leaving it uncertain whether this role will become a reality.

Sexual Offense Prevention Officer Feasibility Study

This act requires Virginia's Department of Military Affairs to study if a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer position should be created within the existing program, focusing on helping victims of sexual assault.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Military Affairs to assess the feasibility of establishing a new officer role for handling sexual offense prevention and response.
  • Develops recommendations about whether this new officer should be established, including how it would help victims report crimes.
  • The Adjutant General must write a report by November 1, 2026, on what they found in their study.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Military Affairs
  • Victims of sexual assault who might benefit from victim advocacy services

Terms To Know

Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer
A person whose job would be to help prevent sexual offenses and support victims.
Victim Advocacy Services
Support given to people who have been hurt or harmed, especially in cases of crime.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify if the new officer position will actually be created after the study.
  • It is unclear how much money would be needed for this new role based on the current review.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB34AHC1

2026-01-29

Public Safety Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the text to allow for a Military Criminal Investigative Organization or another investigative authority instead of an Officer.

  • Changes line 31 by replacing 'Officer' with 'Military Criminal Investigative Organization or other investigative authority'.
  • The amendment does not specify the exact role or responsibilities of the new investigative authority, which may be unclear.
HB34AHC2

2026-01-29 • Committee

Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the text to include 'Military Criminal Investigative Organization or other investigative authority' instead of 'Officer'.

  • Replaces the word 'Officer' with 'Military Criminal Investigative Organization or other investigative authority'.
  • The amendment does not provide further details on how this change will affect the overall feasibility assessment and recommendations for establishing a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer position.
HB34AH1

2026-01-30 • Committee

Public Safety Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the text to include 'Military Criminal Investigative Organization or other investigative authority' instead of 'Officer'.

  • Replaces the word 'Officer' with 'Military Criminal Investigative Organization or other investigative authority'.
  • The amendment does not provide further details on what specific changes this replacement will bring to the bill's overall purpose.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 550 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 550 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0550)

  4. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-31 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34)

  10. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  11. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  12. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB34ER)

  13. 2026-03-10 House

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (67-Y 31-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  15. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  16. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  17. 2026-03-09 Finance and Appropriations

    Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  18. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 14-N 0-A)

  19. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  20. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  21. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  22. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  23. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  24. 2026-03-05 Finance and Appropriations

    Committee substitute printed 26109173D-S1

  25. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  26. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  27. 2026-03-05 Finance and Appropriations

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34)

  28. 2026-03-04 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)

  29. 2026-02-25 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

  30. 2026-02-25 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

  31. 2026-02-10 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34)

  32. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  33. 2026-02-06 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  34. 2026-02-05 House

    Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)

  35. 2026-02-04 House

    Read second time

  36. 2026-02-04 House

    committee amendment agreed to

  37. 2026-02-04 House

    Engrossed by House as amended

  38. 2026-02-03 House

    Read first time

  39. 2026-01-30 Public Safety

    Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N)

  40. 2026-01-29 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)

  41. 2026-01-29 Subcommittee #2

    House subcommittee offered

  42. 2026-01-29 Subcommittee #2

    House subcommittee offered

  43. 2026-01-16 Subcommittee #2

    Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2

  44. 2026-01-07 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB34)

  45. 2025-12-23 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101188D

  46. 2025-12-23 Public Safety

    Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Department of Military Affairs; feasibility of Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer; report.
Directs the Department of Military Affairs to assess the feasibility of and develop recommendations related to establishing a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer position within the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program to perform victim advocacy services. The bill requires the Adjutant General to report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice no later than November 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to direct the Department of Military Affairs to assess the feasibility of and develop recommendations related to establishing a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer position within the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program to perform victim advocacy services; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the Department of Military Affairs (the Department) is directed to assess the feasibility of and develop recommendations related to establishing a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer (the Officer) position within the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program (the Program) to perform victim advocacy services, including helping victims of certain criminal sexual assault offenses make restricted or unrestricted reports. In conducting such assessment and developing such recommendations, the Department shall review its existing Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Coordinator position and associated staff. The Adjutant General shall submit a report of such assessment and any recommendations to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice no later than November 1, 2026, that shall include information on the Program's role in performing victim
advocacy
services such as helping victims of certain criminal sexual assault offenses make restricted or unrestricted reports, including (i) a description of services provided by the Coordinator's office, (ii) personnel levels and functions, and (iii) any operational costs.