All Roll Calls
Yes: 21 • No: 9
VirginiaHB18652025 Regular SessionHouse
Virginia Access to Justice Act; establishes public defender office in each judicial circuit.
Sponsored By: Katrina Callsen (Democratic)
Failed
Summary
Virginia Access to Justice Act. Establishes a public defender office in each judicial circuit. Currently, public defender offices have been established in certain localities. The bill also establishes an appellate defender office to represent indigent persons in appeals of their convictions to the Court of Appeals of Virginia or Supreme Court of Virginia. The bill raises the limitation of fees that court-appointed counsel can receive for representation on various offenses in district and circuit courts. Further, the bill requires the attorney for the Commonwealth and assistant attorney for the Commonwealth to prosecute Class 1, 2, and 3 misdemeanors, or any other violation, the conviction of which carries a penalty of confinement in jail, or a fine of $500 or more, or both such confinement and fine. Current law allows discretion for prosecuting such misdemeanors and violations. Lastly, the bill expands the definition of "victim" as it relates to compensating victims of crime to include persons awarded restitution pursuant to relevant law.
Appropriations
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Katrina Callsen
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 1/29/2025
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations
Yes: 14 • No: 8
House vote • 1/24/2025
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations
Yes: 7 • No: 1 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Left in Appropriations
2/4/2025HouseFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1865)
1/30/2025HouseReported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (14-Y 8-N)
1/29/2025HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N)
1/24/2025HouseAssigned Courts sub: Criminal
1/23/2025HouseReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
1/6/2025HousePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25100088D
1/6/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment
1/29/2025
Introduced
1/6/2025
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