# Virginia HB556: Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission; increases membership, training requirements, report.

Virginia HB556, Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission; increases membership, training requirements, report., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Patrick A. Hope (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Rules) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB556-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB556
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission; increases membership, training requirements, report.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Rules
- Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Rules
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission; membership; training requirements; Commission staff; JLARC study; report. Increases the membership of the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission (the Commission) from seven to nine members and reduces from 15 to 10 years the legal practice requirement of any member of the Commission. The bill further provides for staggered terms of the members of the Commission. The bill requires that members of the Commission complete a certain amount of education on judicial misconduct and correcting implicit bias. The bill further directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to, by November 30, 2025, (i) review (a) procedures for reviewing complaints received and adjudicating complaints, (b) processes for determining whether to conduct informal or formal hearings, and (c) any informal or established rules used to determine disciplinary action imposed on a judge or justice and provide recommendations as to the codification and publication of any such procedures, processes, or rules; (ii) research sanctions not currently used in the Commonwealth, including suspension without pay, mandatory recusal from certain cases, and payment of costs and fees associated with investigations and whether such sanctions are used in other states and their efficacy; (iii) provide recommendations on establishing a conflict of interest policy and code of conduct for the Commission and its staff; and (iv) study the potential benefits of combining the Judicial Performance Evaluation program with the tasks of the Commission.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-01 | House | Continued to 2025 in Rules (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Rules (House)
- 2024-02-01: Continued to 2025 in Rules (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-29: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-25: Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee on Rules (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102627D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB556)

## 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.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB556)

## 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-HB556-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).