# Virginia HB118: Discovery materials or evidence; accused may request to copy or photograph any materials.

Virginia HB118, Discovery materials or evidence; accused may request to copy or photograph any materials., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Karen Keys-Gamarra (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0562)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB118-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB118
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Discovery materials or evidence; accused may request to copy or photograph any materials.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-02
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0562)
- Sponsor: Karen Keys-Gamarra (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 13 (394 yes, 111 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Discovery; methods of delivery. Requires the Commonwealth, upon request by the accused or his counsel, to copy or photograph any discovery materials or evidence the accused is permitted to inspect and review, including relevant police reports, criminal records, dashboard camera footage, and body-worn camera footage, and requires the Commonwealth to provide copies to the accused or his counsel, subject to the redaction, restricted dissemination, and protective order provisions of the relevant Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and unless such material is prohibited from being distributed by law.The bill requires the attorney for the Commonwealth in any district court to provide to counsel of record for the accused, if requested, a copy of any relevant police report at least 10 days prior to the date the case is set for trial or preliminary hearing, and such report is subject to limitations on dissemination. The bill further provides that if such materials are provided to counsel of record for the accused in district court for a preliminary hearing, the circuit court shall order such counsel to provide discovery to the attorney for the Commonwealth subject to the relevant Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia prior to trial in circuit court. Lastly, the bill provides that if at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that the attorney for the Commonwealth has failed to comply with such provisions, the court may order the Commonwealth to permit discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, or prohibit the Commonwealth from introducing evidence not disclosed, or the court may enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More evidence copies for criminal defendants: benefit, low. In Virginia circuit court, prosecutors must give defense counsel requested copies covered by Rule 3A:11, unless distribution is legally barred. With a discovery order under that rule, defendants can request copies or photographs of evidence they may inspect, including police reports, criminal recor…
- Defense must share evidence before felony trial: cost, low. When defense counsel requests materials for a district-court preliminary hearing, a matching disclosure duty applies before a circuit-court felony trial. The circuit court must order defense counsel to provide discovery to the prosecutor under Rule 3A:11 before trial.
- Defense gets reports with sharing limits: mixed, low. In Virginia district-court cases handled by a Commonwealth’s attorney, defense counsel can request copies of relevant police reports. Prosecutors must provide them at least 10 days before the scheduled trial or preliminary hearing. Counsel may share reports with their agents, employees, or an exper…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karen Keys-Gamarra (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 81 | 14 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 4 | 94 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 96 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 20 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0562) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 562 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB118) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB118ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: Conference report agreed to by House (81-Y 14-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-10: House Conferees: Keys-Gamarra, Carnegie, Griffin (House)
- 2026-03-10: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-09: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Senate Conferees: Carroll Foy, Perry, McDougle (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-05: Senate insisted on substitute (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate substitute rejected by House (4-Y 94-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Committee substitute printed 26108652D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB118) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed House (96-Y 2-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-02: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-29: Committee substitute printed 26105982D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (20-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-02: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-02: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101890D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218647.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218646.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213703.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213702.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1206665.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181252.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181251.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101100.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101099.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096261.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095525.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096260.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095524.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082476.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082475.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218647.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218646.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213703.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213702.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1206665.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181252.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181251.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101100.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101099.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096261.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095525.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096260.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095524.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082476.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082475.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB118-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).