Suicide is currently a common-law crime in Virginia, although there is no statutorily prescribed punishment.
The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027, and also requires the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission to review the effect and implication of abolishing the common-law crime of suicide on insurance throughout the Commonwealth and submit its findings and any recommendations by November 1, 2026, to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice.
Limits and Unknowns
This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB43)
2026-02-09House
Read second time
2026-02-09House
committee amendment agreed to
2026-02-09House
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-02-06House
Read first time
2026-02-04Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)
2026-01-30Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N)
2026-01-29Criminal
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
2025-12-23House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100450D
2025-12-23Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Official Summary Text
Common-law crime of suicide.
Abolishes the common-law crime of suicide. Suicide is currently a common-law crime in Virginia, although there is no statutorily prescribed punishment. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027, and also requires the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission to review the effect and implication of abolishing the common-law crime of suicide on insurance throughout the Commonwealth and submit its findings and any recommendations by November 1, 2026, to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
18.2-16.1
, relating to abolishing the common-law crime of suicide.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
18.2-16.1
as follows:
§
18.2-16.1
. Common-law crime of suicide abolished.
The common-law crime of suicide is hereby abolished.
2. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2027.
3. That the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission shall review the effect and implication of abolishing the common-law crime of suicide on insurance throughout the Commonwealth and submit its findings and any recommendations by November 1, 2026, to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice.