# Virginia HB847: Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement.

Virginia HB847, Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Will Davis (Republican); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Appropriations) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB847-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB847
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Appropriations
- Sponsor: Will Davis (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (50 yes, 0 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 two competent, qualified, and experienced attorneys, one of whom shall be the public defender in a jurisdiction in which a public defender office is established, for the defendant. Under current law, the court is required to appoint two such attorneys in cases in which an indigent defendant is charged with a Class 1 felony. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-01-31 | House | Continued to 2025 in Appropriations (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-26 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-26 | House | Referred to Committee on Appropriations | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (10)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Appropriations (House)
- 2024-01-31: Continued to 2025 in Appropriations (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-29: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-26: Referred to Committee on Appropriations (House)
- 2024-01-26: Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-01-26: Assigned App. sub: General Government and Capital Outlay (House)
- 2024-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-01-19: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101769D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB847)

## 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/HB847)

## 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-HB847-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).