# Virginia HB2223: Legal representation of indigent defendant; abolition of fees.

Virginia HB2223, Legal representation of indigent defendant; abolition of fees., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Appropriations) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2223-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2223
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Legal representation of indigent defendant; abolition of fees.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Appropriations
- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (17 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Abolition of fees; legal representation of indigent defendant. Eliminates the fees for the cost of court-appointed counsel or public defender representation for persons who are determined to be indigent.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-24 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations | pass | 12 | 10 |   |
| 2025-01-20 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 5 | 3 | 1 |

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Appropriations (House)
- 2025-01-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2223) (House)
- 2025-01-24: Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) (House)
- 2025-01-20: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2025-01-18: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101285D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015606.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015605.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015606.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015605.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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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2223-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).