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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 852

Indigent defendant; abolition of fees, legal representation, jury trial costs, report.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (9)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE

Abolition of fees; legal representation of indigent defendant; jury trial costs; report. Eliminates the fees for the cost of court-appointed counsel or public defender representation for persons who are determined to be indigent. The bill also eliminates fees for persons who utilize a jury trial. The bill contains a reenactment clause for such elimination of fees.The bill also directs the Indigent Defense Commission, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court or his designee, to convene a work group with all relevant stakeholders, including the Attorney General or his designee, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources or his designee; representatives from the Compensation Board, the Virginia Crime Commission, the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the Virginia Court Clerk's Association, the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, staff from the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and the Virginia Probation and Parole Association; and a minimum of two criminal justice reform organizations working on fees and other financial assessments imposed in criminal prosecutions in Virginia; on several topics, including current collection practices, use of funds received as a result of such collections, and the burden of a fee assessment on indigent individuals. The bill requires the work group to submit an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2026, and a final report by November 1, 2027.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 3, 2026
Senate		Continued to next session in Finance and AppropriationspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 23, 2026
Senate		Reported from Courts of JusticepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 13, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 9, 2026
House		Reported from Appropriations with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 9, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 4, 2026
House		Reported from Courts of JusticepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 30, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reportingpassSet your home in Virginia to see

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