VA HB193

Expands parole eligibility to prisoners sentenced by a jury after June 9, 2000 for felonies committed on or after January 1, 1995, if they can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the jury was not instructed that parole had been abolished

Requires eligible prisoners to have remained incarcerated as of July 1, 2026 to qualify for parole consideration under the new provision

Excludes from parole eligibility those convicted of Class 1 felonies or sexual offenses against minors, including rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, aggravated sexual battery, attempts of these crimes, and carnal knowledge

Mandates that the Parole Board schedule parole interviews by July 1, 2027 for prisoners meeting the new eligibility criteria, with allowance for extensions for reasonable cause

Builds upon existing law that restored parole eligibility for those sentenced by juries prior to June 9, 2000 who were not informed parole had been eliminated