CHAPTER 516
An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-60.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to stalking by electronically transmitted communication; penalty.
[S 673]
Approved April 8, 2026
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-60.3 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-60.3 . Stalking; penalty.
A. For purposes of this section:
"Electronically transmitted communication" includes communication by telephone, computer, or other electronic device.
"Family or household member" has the same meaning as provided in § 16.1-228 .
B. Any person, except a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101 , and acting in the performance of his official duties, and a registered private investigator, as defined in § 9.1-138 , who is regulated in accordance with § 9.1-139 and acting in the course of his legitimate business, who on more than one occasion engages in conduct, either in person or through any other means, including by mail, telephone, or an electronically transmitted communication, directed at another person with the intent to place, or when he knows or reasonably should know that the conduct places that other person in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that other person or to that other person's family or household member is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the person contacts or follows or attempts to contact or follow the person at whom the conduct is directed after being given actual notice that the person does not want to be contacted or followed, such actions shall be prima facie evidence that the person intended to place that other person, or reasonably should have known that the other person was placed, in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to himself or a family or household member.