GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 267, which creates an affirmative defense for assault and battery.

First and foremost, the Commonwealth has made great strides in handling our mental health crisis and remains focused on providing treatment to those individuals.

A new, loosely defined, and excessively broad affirmative defense is unnecessary because Virginia laws already provide protections for individuals who are not criminally responsible due to mental illness.

The proposal significantly reduces the protections afforded to law enforcement and erodes the Commonwealth Attorney’s discretion in evaluating cases, needlessly introducing logistical and procedural challenges that further burden our strained court system.

This bill sends the wrong message at precisely the wrong time.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.