04 February 2021 :

Bill to abolish death penalty passes Senate.
The Virginia Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would abolish the death penalty, a measure that if passed into law would mark a major policy change for a state that over its centuries-long history has led the nation in the number of executions it has carried out. The Democrat-controlled chamber approved the bill in a 21-17 vote that split along party lines and was seen as a key hurdle for the measure. Advocates now expect the House version of the bill to easily clear that chamber, and Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam has said he supports the legislation. Democratic Del. Mike Mullin, who is a prosecutor, is carrying the House version of the legislation. It advanced out of a committee Wednesday on a bipartisan vote of 15-6 with one abstention. If the bill is passed into law, Virginia would become the 23rd state to abolish the death penalty.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/virginia-senate-passes-death-penalty-abolition-bill/