VirginiaHB5672026 Regular SessionHouse

Court records; aggregated case data, request by attorney for the Commonwealth exempted.

Sponsored By: Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Court records; aggregated case data; request by attorney for the Commonwealth exempted. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a request for a report of aggregated case data is made by an attorney for the Commonwealth to assist in the performance of his duties, the clerk or the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, depending on if the request is made to a district court or circuit court, shall approve such request and provide such report of aggregated case data, which shall include the name, date of birth, and last four digits of the social security number of any party. Under current law, such request may be denied to ensure compliance with existing law and such reports are prohibited from including the name, date of birth, or social security number of any party and images of the individual records in the respective case files. The bill also provides that no report of aggregated case data that includes the name, date of birth, and last four digits of the social security number of any party provided to an attorney for the Commonwealth shall be disseminated further unless such information is redacted.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Court data reports: limits and access

Requests for aggregated, nonconfidential case data must go to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Public reports cannot include names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, or images of case files. You cannot sell, post, or redistribute these reports; the Office can deny requests to enforce this. If you are an attorney for the Commonwealth, the Office must approve and provide a report for cases in your jurisdiction. That report may include a party’s name, date of birth, and last four digits of a Social Security number. You may not share such reports outside your office unless the identifiers are first redacted.

How to request court records

To get copies of nonconfidential court records, send your request to the right clerk. District court records go to the district court clerk; circuit court records go to the circuit court clerk. The clerk or the Executive Secretary can require a written request with your name and legal address, and you must describe the records clearly. They can tell you the cost, ask for a deposit, or require full payment before work starts; charges cannot exceed actual costs. They can also require payment of any past-due bills older than 30 days before handling a new request. They are not required to create new records or use unusual formats. They must provide the records or raise any confidentiality objection within 30 days of a complete request. Records permanently archived are handled by the Library of Virginia. Clerks and the Executive Secretary are protected from suits for producing records under this law, unless they act with gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 1

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/18/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 12 • No: 1

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 1/28/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0172)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 172 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB567)

    2/27/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB567ER)

    2/25/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    2/25/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    2/25/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/25/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/23/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/20/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/20/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/20/2026Senate
  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB567)

    2/18/2026House
  16. Reported from Courts of Justice (12-Y 1-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. Committee substitute printed 26106413D-H1

    2/4/2026House
  25. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

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