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SB62 • 2026

Marijuana-related offenses; modification of sentence, sunset.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-303.03, relating to modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses.

Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Lucas
Last action
2026-04-22
Official status
Awaiting Governor's Action
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact nature and type of marijuana-related felonies are not detailed in the official source material.

Changing Sentences for Marijuana Offenses

This law allows people who were found guilty of certain marijuana crimes before July 1, 2021 and are still in jail or on probation by July 1, 2026 to ask for a new hearing about their sentence.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a process allowing individuals with specific marijuana-related felony convictions from before July 1, 2021 who remain incarcerated or on probation as of July 1, 2026 to request an automatic hearing to reconsider their sentences by filing a petition on a form provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who were found guilty of certain marijuana-related felonies before July 1, 2021 and are still in jail or on probation by July 1, 2026.
  • Courts that will hold hearings for these people to reconsider their sentences.

Terms To Know

Felony
A serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence of more than one year.
Probation
When someone who has been found guilty of a crime is allowed to stay out of jail but must follow certain rules set by the court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies to people with specific marijuana-related felony convictions that happened before July 1, 2021.
  • This process will end on July 1, 2029.

Amendments

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

SB62G

2026-04-13 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (SB62) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

  • (SB62) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
  • Line 20, enrolled, after shall insert , upon the filing of a petition for reconsideration on a form provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia by the defendant on or before January 1, 2027, 2.
  • Line 20, enrolled, after hearing strike by January 1, 2027, 3.
  • Line 23, enrolled, after (i) insert (a) 4.
SB62AS2

2026-02-06 • Committee

Courts of Justice Amendment

Plain English: 2/06/2026 (SB62) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.

  • 2/06/2026 (SB62) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.
  • Line 18, introduced, after (iii) strike remains insert is COURTS OF JUSTICE 2.
  • Line 20, introduced, after convictions or strike remains insert is COURTS OF JUSTICE 3.
  • Line 20, introduced, after on strike community supervision as defined in § 53.1-1 insert active supervision COURTS OF JUSTICE 4.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Communicated to Governor

  2. 2026-04-22 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  3. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  4. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  5. 2026-03-14 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  6. 2026-03-14 Governor

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

  7. 2026-03-13 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB62)

  8. 2026-03-12 House

    Signed by Speaker

  9. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Signed by President

  10. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Enrolled

  11. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB62ER)

  12. 2026-03-06 Senate

    House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-05 Courts of Justice

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB62)

  14. 2026-03-04 House

    Read third time

  15. 2026-03-04 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  16. 2026-03-04 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  17. 2026-03-04 House

    Passed House with substitute (65-Y 34-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-03 House

    Read second time

  19. 2026-03-02 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  20. 2026-03-02 Courts of Justice

    Committee substitute printed 26109047D-H1

  21. 2026-02-19 House

    Placed on Calendar

  22. 2026-02-19 House

    Read first time

  23. 2026-02-19 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  24. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A)

  25. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Read second time

  26. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  27. 2026-02-13 Courts of Justice

    Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to

  28. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  29. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Rules suspended

  30. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  31. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  32. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  33. 2026-02-11 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N 1-A)

  34. 2026-02-04 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N)

  35. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB62)

  36. 2025-12-15 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102071D

  37. 2025-12-15 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses.
Creates a process by which a person adjudicated delinquent or convicted of certain felony offenses involving, or violations of probation or community supervision related to, the possession, manufacture, selling, giving, distribution, transportation, or delivery of marijuana committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remains incarcerated or on probation or community supervision on July 1, 2026, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The bill sunsets on July 1, 2029. This bill is identical to HB 26.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
(SB62)
GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION
1. Line 20, enrolled, after
shall
insert
, upon the filing of a petition for reconsideration on a form provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia by the defendant on or before January 1, 2027,
2. Line 20, enrolled, after
hearing
strike
by January 1, 2027,
3. Line 23, enrolled, after
(i)
insert
(a)
4. Line 27, enrolled, after
and
insert
(b)
5. Line 36, enrolled, after
shall
insert
, upon the filing of a petition for reconsideration on a form provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia by the defendant on or before January 1, 2027,
6. Line 36, enrolled, after
hearing
strike
by April 1, 2027,
7. Line 37, enrolled, after
of a
insert
marijuana-related