SB198
Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements.
Status:
Killed
Latest Action:
March 9, 2026
House: Tabled in Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
Chief Patron:
Barbara Favola (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Admissibility of statements by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities in certain cases.
Prohibits admission of any evidence from an individual with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities, as defined in relevant law, in certain criminal prosecutions unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that such individual's decision to speak to law enforcement was not caused by and did not have ... (More) a direct and substantial relationship to such individual's disability. The bill requires notice be given to the attorney for the Commonwealth if a defendant intends to introduce expert testimony regarding his disability. The bill prohibits any statements made by a defendant during an examination by an expert witness from being used against him except for impeachment or perjury. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by a subsequent regular or special session of the General Assembly. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/09/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104790D
- 01/09/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB198)
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26105843D-S1
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (13-Y 2-N)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/19/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/19/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/19/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/19/2026 - House: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
- 02/19/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/20/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/20/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
- 02/25/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB198)
- 02/27/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 03/02/2026 - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
- 03/02/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 03/09/2026 - House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
- 03/09/2026 - House: Tabled in Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
