The Virginia House of Delegates has approved House Bill 2555, a bipartisan measure that would allow sentence modifications for individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related felonies before the state legalized the substance.
Filed on January 11 by a bipartisan group of seven lawmakers, HB 2555 establishes a process for individuals still incarcerated or under community supervision for felony marijuana offenses committed before July 1, 2021, to receive an automatic hearing to reconsider their sentences. The bill passed the House Courts of Justice Committee last week with a 14-8 vote before advancing to the full House, where it was approved today.
Under the bill, Virginia circuit courts must schedule hearings by January 1, 2026, for individuals who qualify. Judges will be required to reduce, vacate, or modify sentences—potentially leading to time served—unless prosecutors prove that doing so would not be in the public interest. Those eligible for sentence modification will also have access to legal counsel if they were previously deemed indigent.
The bill, which includes a sunset provision expiring on July 1, 2028, now moves to the Virginia Senate for further consideration.
The full one-page text of the bill can be found here.
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