Virginia House Votes to Eliminate Qualified Immunity for Police, Bill Goes to Senate

The Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday narrowly passed a bill to eliminate qualified immunity for police, a legal defense that often prevents officers from facing civil lawsuits, just days after rejecting the same bill.

The bill, introduced by Del. Jeffrey Bourne (D-Richmond), was killed in committee but then revived with some changes last week. Bourne told 8News’ Jackie Defusco that the old version would’ve held employers liable for an officer’s actions while they were off-duty but in uniform. In the latest version, Bourne said that liability is no longer automatic, WRIC reports.

Despite the changes, the measure was voted down by the House last Friday. At the start of Tuesday’s floor session, Del. Ibraheem S. Samirah (D-Fairfax) made a motion to reconsider the previous vote, which seemed to have killed the bill on Sept. 4.

Samirah, who voted against the measure last week, teased his plans on Twitter hours before the session. “Today’s the day. I’ll motion for a revote to end Qualified Immunity in Virginia for good during session, at 4pm,” he wrote.

The bill will now go to the Senate for a vote.