VirginiaHB5202026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.

Sponsored By: Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31 (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys. Provides that no clerk shall charge a fee to an attorney for secure remote access to nonconfidential court records when such attorney is certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the jurisdiction served by such clerk, provided that such attorney is currently appointed to represent a defendant in such jurisdiction and agrees to continue accepting appointments in such jurisdiction. The bill also provides that if, after receiving secure remote access for nonconfidential court records, such attorney (i) is found to have abused such privilege of such secure remote access; (ii) is removed from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission's court-appointed attorney list; or (iii) ceases to accept appointments for representation from the granting court, the clerk may terminate the agreement granting such secure remote access. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill is identical to SB 82.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

No clerk fees for records and liens

Clerks do not charge fees for several record and lien tasks. Examples include publishing court notices, keeping and indexing judgment records, recording or releasing certain liens, docketing forfeitures, and filing appraiser reports. Veterans also get free recording and certified copies of their discharge papers. Clerks record receivers’ reports and marks of designation at no charge.

No fees for small officer bonds

Clerks do not charge fees for bonds, oaths, or related orders when you qualify for certain public offices and the bond penalty is $1,000 or less. This covers judges, magistrates, sheriffs, treasurers, commissioners of the revenue, their deputies, escheators, supervisors, guardians, and conservators.

Corrections get free certified criminal orders

Clerks do not charge the Virginia Department of Corrections or federal probation officers for certified copies of criminal judgments or sentencing orders.

Free remote access for appointed defenders

Attorneys certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the clerk’s area get free secure remote access to nonconfidential court records. The attorney must be currently appointed in that court and agree to keep taking appointments there. The clerk can end access for abuse, removal from the VIDC list, or if the attorney stops taking appointments.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 224 • No: 15

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 31 • No: 9

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 11 • No: 4

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/18/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 12 • No: 2

House vote 2/10/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/4/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/2/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0159)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 159 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB520)

    3/11/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB520ER)

    3/11/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/11/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  10. Passed Senate (31-Y 9-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 4-N)

    3/3/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 2-N)

    2/18/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/11/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/11/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/10/2026House
  20. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/9/2026House
  21. committee substitute agreed to

    2/9/2026House
  22. Read second time

    2/9/2026House
  23. Read first time

    2/6/2026House
  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB520)

    2/5/2026House
  25. Committee substitute printed 26106770D-H1

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation