Virginia legislature moves to decriminalize suicide

Virginia lawmakers move to abolish the common-law crime of suicide

RICHMOND, VA – A new proposal before the Virginia General Assembly would formally abolish the centuries-old common-law classification of suicide as a crime, a symbolic but significant move to modernize the state’s legal code and align it with current public health and legal practices.

House Bill 43, introduced by Delegates Marcus Simon and Rozia H. Feggans, adds a new section to Virginia’s criminal code explicitly declaring that “the common-law crime of suicide is hereby abolished.” The measure has been referred to the House Committee for Courts of Justice and, if enacted, would take effect on July 1, 2027.

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