Virginia House Bill 972 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: Passed on May 21 2020 - 100% progression
Action: 2020-05-21 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1285)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]

Possession and consumption of marijuana; penalty. Decriminalizes simple marijuana possession and provides a civil penalty of no more than $25. Current law imposes a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum 30-day jail sentence for a first offense, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides that any violation of simple possession of marijuana shall be charged by a summons in form the same as the uniform summons for motor vehicle law violations and that no court costs shall be assessed for such violations. The bill also provides that a person's criminal history record information shall not include records of any charges or judgments for such violations and records of such charges or judgements shall not be reported to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. However, the bill states that if a violation occurs while an individual is operating a commercial motor vehicle, such violation shall be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles and shall be included on such individual's driving record. Also, the bill states that the procedure for appeal and trial of any violation of simple possession of marijuana shall be the same as provided by law for misdemeanors. The bill also provides that if requested by either party on appeal to the circuit court, trial by jury shall be provided and the Commonwealth shall be required to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Additionally, the bill provides that the suspended sentence/substance abuse screening provisions apply only to criminal violations. The bill defines "marijuana" to include hashish oil and creates a rebuttable presumption that a person who possesses no more than one ounce of marijuana possesses it for personal use. The bill also (i) makes records relating to the arrest, criminal charge, or conviction of possession of marijuana not open to public inspection and disclosure, except in certain circumstances; (ii) prohibits employers and educational institutions from requiring an applicant for employment or admission to disclose information related to such arrest, criminal charge, or conviction; and (iii) prohibits agencies, officials, and employees of the state and local governments from requiring an applicant for a license, permit, registration, or governmental service to disclose information concerning such arrest, criminal charge, or conviction. Also, the bill allows a person charged with a civil offense who is acquitted, a nolle prosequi is taken, or the charge is otherwise dismissed to file a petition requesting expungement of the police records and court records related to the charge. Finally, the bill requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Forestry, Finance, Health and Human Resources, and Public Safety and Homeland Security to convene a work group to study the impact on the Commonwealth of legalizing the sale and personal use of marijuana and report the recommendations of the work group to the General Assembly and the Governor by November 30, 2020.

Marijuana; definitions, possession and consumption, civil penalties, report.

Del. Charniele Herring [D]	Del. Elizabeth Guzman [D]	Del. Dan Helmer [D]	Del. Steve Heretick [D]
Del. Kaye Kory [D]	Del. Mark Levine [D]

2020-04-22 - House - House: VOTE: Agree to (1-Y 90-N) (Y: 1 N: 90 NV: 9 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2020-04-22 - House - House: VOTE: Agree to (58-Y 35-N) (Y: 58 N: 35 NV: 7 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-04-22 - House - House: VOTE: (59-Y 34-N) (Y: 59 N: 34 NV: 7 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-04-22 - Senate - Senate: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendations #1-5 #7-16 (26-Y 14-N) (Y: 26 N: 14 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-04-22 - Senate - Senate: Senate rejected Governor's recommendation #17 (5-Y 35-N) (Y: 5 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2020-03-08 - Senate - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (27-Y 12-N) (Y: 27 N: 12 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-08 - House - House: VOTE: Adoption (56-Y 36-N) (Y: 56 N: 36 NV: 8 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-07 - House - House: VOTE: Adoption (57-Y 39-N) (Y: 57 N: 39 NV: 4 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-07 - Senate - Senate: Senate acceded to request for second conference committee (27-Y 12-N) (Y: 27 N: 12 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-07 - Senate - Senate: Senate requested second conference committee (27-Y 13-N) (Y: 27 N: 13 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-07 - Senate - Senate: Conference report rejected by Senate (2-Y 38-N) (Y: 2 N: 38 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2020-02-26 - Senate - Senate: Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-26 - Senate - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N) (Y: 27 N: 13 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-26 - House - House: VOTE: Adoption (0-Y 93-N) (Y: 0 N: 93 NV: 7 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2020-02-26 - Senate - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (Y: 38 N: 0 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-25 - Senate - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 2-N) (Y: 14 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-19 - Senate - Senate: Reported from Judiciary with substitute (10-Y 4-N) (Y: 10 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-10 - House - House: VOTE: Passage (64-Y 34-N) (Y: 64 N: 34 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-05 - House - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 8-N) (Y: 13 N: 8 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-05 - House - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 9-N) (Y: 13 N: 8 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2020-05-21		Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1285)
2020-05-21		Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1285 (effective 7/1/20)
2020-04-29		Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 22, 2020
2020-04-29	House	Reenrolled Bill communicated to Governor on April 29, 2020
2020-04-22	Senate	Signed by President as reenrolled
2020-04-22	House	Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
2020-04-22	House	Reenrolled bill text (HB972ER2)
2020-04-22	House	Reenrolled
2020-04-22		Governor: Governor's recommendation adopted in-part
2020-04-22	Senate	Senate concurred in Governor's recommendations #1-5 #7-16 (26-Y 14-N)
2020-04-22	Senate	Senate rejected Governor's recommendation #17 (5-Y 35-N)
2020-04-22	House	VOTE: Agree to (1-Y 90-N)
2020-04-22	House	House rejected Governor's recommendation #6 (1-Y 90-N)
2020-04-22	House	VOTE: Agree to (58-Y 35-N)
2020-04-22	House	House concurred in Governor's recommendation #'s 1-5 and 7-17 (58-Y 35-N)
2020-04-22	House	Passed by temporarily
2020-04-22	House	Reconsideration of Governor's recommendation agreed to
2020-04-22	House	VOTE: (59-Y 34-N)
2020-04-22	House	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 34-N)
2020-04-22	House	Placed on Calendar
2020-04-11	House	Governor's recommendation received by House
2020-03-20		Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
2020-03-20	House	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020
2020-03-19	House	Signed by Speaker
2020-03-18	Senate	Signed by President
2020-03-18	House	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB972ER)
2020-03-18	House	Enrolled
2020-03-08	Senate	Conference report agreed to by Senate (27-Y 12-N)
2020-03-08	House	VOTE: Adoption (56-Y 36-N)
2020-03-08	House	Conference report agreed to by House (56-Y 36-N)
2020-03-08	House	Second Conference substitute printed 20109945D-H3
2020-03-07	House	Delegates: Herring, Heretick, Collins
2020-03-07	House	Second conferees appointed by House
2020-03-07	Senate	Senators: Ebbin, Morrissey, Stanley
2020-03-07	Senate	Second conferees appointed by Senate
2020-03-07	Senate	Senate acceded to request for second conference committee (27-Y 12-N)
2020-03-07	Senate	Senate requested second conference committee (27-Y 13-N)
2020-03-07	Senate	Conference report rejected by Senate (2-Y 38-N)
2020-03-07	House	House requested second conference committee
2020-03-07	House	VOTE: Adoption (57-Y 39-N)
2020-03-07	House	Conference report agreed to by House (57-Y 39-N)
2020-03-05	House	First Conference substitute printed 20109632D-H2
2020-03-05		Conference: Amended by conference committee
2020-02-27	Senate	Senators: Ebbin, Morrissey, Stanley
2020-02-27	Senate	Conferees appointed by Senate
2020-02-27	House	Delegates: Herring, Heretick, Collins
2020-02-27	House	Conferees appointed by House
2020-02-27	House	House acceded to request
2020-02-26	Senate	Senate requested conference committee
2020-02-26	Senate	Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N)
2020-02-26	House	VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 93-N)
2020-02-26	House	Senate substitute rejected by House 20108924D-S2 (0-Y 93-N)
2020-02-26	Senate	Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N)
2020-02-26	Senate	Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB972S2
2020-02-26	Senate	Passed by temporarily
2020-02-26	Senate	Committee substitute agreed to 20108924D-S2
2020-02-26	Senate	Reading of substitute waived
2020-02-26	Senate	Committee substitute rejected 20108635D-S1
2020-02-26	Senate	Read third time
2020-02-26	Senate	Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
2020-02-25	Senate	Committee substitute printed 20108924D-S2
2020-02-25	Senate	Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 2-N)
2020-02-19	Senate	Committee substitute printed 20108635D-S1
2020-02-19	Senate	Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
2020-02-19	Senate	Reported from Judiciary with substitute (10-Y 4-N)
2020-02-11	Senate	Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
2020-02-11	Senate	Constitutional reading dispensed
2020-02-10	House	VOTE: Passage (64-Y 34-N)
2020-02-10	House	Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N)
2020-02-07	House	Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB972H1
2020-02-07	House	Committee substitute agreed to 20107729D-H1
2020-02-07	House	Read second time
2020-02-06	House	Read first time
2020-02-05	House	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 8-N)
2020-02-05	House	Incorporates HB301 (Levine)
2020-02-05	House	Incorporates HB481 (Kory)
2020-02-05	House	Incorporates HB265 (Heretick)
2020-02-05	House	Committee substitute printed 20107729D-H1
2020-01-07	House	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2020-01-07	House	Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20103384D

HB265 (Similar To) 2020-02-05 - Incorporated by Courts of Justice
HB301 (Similar To) 2020-02-05 - Incorporated by Courts of Justice
HB481 (Similar To) 2020-02-05 - Incorporated by Courts of Justice
SB2 (Same As) 2020-05-21 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1286)

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
16	1	228	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	1	260	(n/a)	See Bill Text
16	1	273	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	248.1	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	250.1	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	250.2	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	251	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	251.02	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	251.03	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	252	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	254	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	259.1	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	308.09	(n/a)	See Bill Text
18	2	308.1:5	(n/a)	See Bill Text
19	2	188.1	(n/a)	See Bill Text
19	2	389.3	(n/a)	See Bill Text
46	2	390.1	(n/a)	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+HB972
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972H1+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972S1+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972S2+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972H2+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972H3+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972ER+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB972ER2+hil
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP1285+hil
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+H08V0165+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV0714+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+H08V0336+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+S03V0367+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+S05V0406+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1050HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV1407+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1092HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1120HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1754HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1755HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1801HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV2066+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV2084+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1894HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV2026HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV2027HB0972+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV2171+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV2291+HB0972
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV2292+HB0972