SB18
Children; adjudication of delinquency, orders of disposition.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Mamie Locke (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Children; adjudication of delinquency.
Specifies that 'delinquent child' means a child 11 years of age or older who has committed a delinquent act. Currently, there is no minimum age for a child to be adjudicated delinquent. The bill provides that if a child younger than 11 years of age is found to have committed ... (More) an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older, the child shall not be proceeded upon as delinquent; however, the court may make any orders of disposition authorized for a child in need of services or a child in need of supervision. The bill also provides that any funding that is available to provide services to a child 11 years of age or older who is proceeded upon as delinquent shall also be made available to a child younger than 11 years of age who is found to have committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older in order to provide such child with the same services. The bill includes in the definition of 'child in need of services' a child younger than 11 years of age who has committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older. The bill also requires the court amend a delinquency petition to allege that the child is in need of services or supervision if requested by the Commonwealth. (Less)-
Bill History
- 11/17/2025 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100547D
- 11/17/2025 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/08/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB18)
- 01/19/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (14-Y 1-N)
- 01/20/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 01/20/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 01/20/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- 01/21/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 01/21/2026 - Senate: Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to
- 01/21/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
- 01/22/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (29-Y 11-N 0-A)
- 01/23/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB18)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/03/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/17/2026 - House: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
- 02/17/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/18/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 2-N)
- 02/27/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 03/02/2026 - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N)
- 03/03/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/04/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/04/2026 - House: committee amendments agreed to
- 03/04/2026 - House: Engrossed by House as amended
- 03/04/2026 - House: Passed House with amendments (65-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: House Amendments agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Enrolled
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB18ER)
- 03/12/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/13/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB18)
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
- 03/14/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
