# Virginia HB2322: Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by mandatory minimum term of confinement. Virginia HB2322, Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by mandatory minimum term of confinement., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Will Davis (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-03-19 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0170)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2322-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB2322 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by mandatory minimum term of confinement. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-08 - Last action: 2025-03-19, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0170) - Sponsor: Will Davis (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 16 (617 yes, 96 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life. Provides that in any case in which an indigent defendant is charged with any felony punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life, the court shall appoint to represent the defendant two competent, qualified, and experienced attorneys, one of whom shall be from the public defender office if the defendant is charged in a jurisdiction in which a public defender office is established. The bill preserves the requirement under current law for the court to appoint two such attorneys in cases in which an indigent defendant is charged with a Class 1 felony. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Will Davis (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-22 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-22 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 98 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 96 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-02-19 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-17 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 21 | 0 | | | 2025-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 | | 2025-01-24 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2025-01-20 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (50) - 2025-03-19: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0170) (Governor) - 2025-03-19: Approved by Governor-Chapter 170 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House) - 2025-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2322) (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2322ER) (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-22: Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-22: Amended by conference committee - 2025-02-22: Conference report agreed to by House (98-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (38-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Senators: Surovell, Carroll Foy, McDougle (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Delegates: Herring, Keys-Gamarra, Davis (House) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2025-02-20: House acceded to request (House) - 2025-02-20: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reading of substitute waived (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2322) (House) - 2025-02-19: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Committee substitute printed 25107687D-S1 (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House) - 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-02-03: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2025-01-31: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-29: Reported from Appropriations (21-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2322) (House) - 2025-01-27: Assigned Approps sub: General Government and Capital Outlay (House) - 2025-01-24: Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-20: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-18: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House) - 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House) - 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102394D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-03-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1071707.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1071706.PDF) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069257.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069256.PDF) - Conference Report, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067586.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060748.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060747.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015878.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015877.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 - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1071707.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1071706.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069257.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069256.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1067586.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060748.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060747.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015878.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015877.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) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2322-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).