2026 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

26109443D

HOUSE BILL NO. 273

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice

on March 9, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Helmer)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1, relating to law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb; civil immunity.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1 as follows:

§ 19.2-83.6:1. Duty of law-enforcement officer to render aid upon danger to life or limb; immunity from civil liability.

A. Any law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, while engaged in the performance of his duties, shall have a duty to render aid to any person that such law-enforcement officer observes suffering from a serious bodily injury or life-threatening condition, as circumstances objectively permit and provided that such law-enforcement officer determines such aid may be rendered without endangering himself, the person, or others.

B. In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, a law-enforcement officer shall not be liable for any personal injury or wrongful death resulting from the rendering or withholding of such aid in accordance with the provisions of this section.

2. That the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall adopt regulations establishing minimum standards to provide law-enforcement officers, as that term is defined in § 9.1-101 of the Code of Virginia, with basic medical training, including emergency first aid training.