# Virginia HB331: Proceedings deferred; payment of costs.

Virginia HB331, Proceedings deferred; payment of costs., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Adele Y. McClure (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0592)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB331-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB331
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Proceedings deferred; payment of costs.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-11
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0592)
- Sponsor: Adele Y. McClure (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 10 (237 yes, 96 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Payment of costs when proceedings deferred and defendant placed on probation. Provides that for any deferral entered into on or after July 1, 2026, pursuant to relevant law, the court shall not require the defendant to pay such costs or other fees imposed pursuant to relevant law as a term or condition of his deferral. The bill states that upon fulfillment of all other terms and conditions, the court shall adjudicate the matter consistent with the agreement of the parties or, if none, by conviction of an alternative charge or dismissal of the case. The bill specifies that such costs and other fees shall remain due until paid, and all methods of payment and collection already available at law to satisfy or collect any outstanding costs or other fees shall remain available to such court after the underlying case against the defendant has been adjudicated or dismissed.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Defendants owe costs but gain payment protections: mixed, low. Virginia circuit and district courts must charge costs for covered cases deferred without a guilty judgment while defendants serve probation. For deferrals entered on or after July 1, 2026, courts cannot make payment of these costs or fees a deferral condition. Defendants still owe the money, and e…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adele Y. McClure (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Senate amendment agreed to by House | pass | 65 | 31 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 65 | 32 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 17 | 3 |   |
| 2026-01-21 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0592) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 592 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB331) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB331ER) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate amendment agreed to by House (65-Y 31-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 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 (65-Y 32-N 0-A) (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 26105868D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (17-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-21: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-21: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB331) (House)
- 2026-01-11: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-11: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101411D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219032.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219031.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203578.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203577.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194544.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186719.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101161.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101160.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093351.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093350.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092958.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092957.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083879.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083878.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/1219032.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219031.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203578.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203577.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194544.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186719.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101161.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101160.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093351.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093350.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092958.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092957.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083879.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083878.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB331-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).