# Virginia HB1865: Virginia Access to Justice Act; establishes public defender office in each judicial circuit.

Virginia HB1865, Virginia Access to Justice Act; establishes public defender office in each judicial circuit., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Katrina Callsen (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Appropriations) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1865-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1865
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Virginia Access to Justice Act; establishes public defender office in each judicial circuit.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Appropriations
- Sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (21 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations | pass | 14 | 8 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 1 | 1 |

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Appropriations (House)
- 2025-01-30: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1865) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (14-Y 8-N) (House)
- 2025-01-24: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-01-23: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25100088D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029125.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013315.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013314.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029125.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013315.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013314.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1865-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).