Indigent defendant; abolition of fees, legal representation, jury trial costs, report.
Sponsored By: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
In Committee
Summary
Abolition of fees; legal representation of indigent defendant; jury trial costs; report. Eliminates the fees for the cost of court-appointed counsel or public defender representation for persons who are determined to be indigent. The bill also eliminates fees for persons who utilize a jury trial. The bill contains a reenactment clause for such elimination of fees.The bill also directs the Indigent Defense Commission, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court or his designee, to convene a work group with all relevant stakeholders, including the Attorney General or his designee, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources or his designee; representatives from the Compensation Board, the Virginia Crime Commission, the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the Virginia Court Clerk's Association, the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, staff from the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and the Virginia Probation and Parole Association; and a minimum of two criminal justice reform organizations working on fees and other financial assessments imposed in criminal prosecutions in Virginia; on several topics, including current collection practices, use of funds received as a result of such collections, and the burden of a fee assessment on indigent individuals. The bill requires the work group to submit an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2026, and a final report by November 1, 2027.
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Rae Cousins
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Continued from last session
7/21/2026SenateContinued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
3/3/2026SenateReported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
2/23/2026SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB852)
2/20/2026HouseReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2/16/2026SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2/16/2026SenateRead third time and passed House (60-Y 35-N 0-A)
2/13/2026HouseEngrossed by House - committee substitute
2/12/2026Housecommittee substitute agreed to
2/12/2026HouseRead second time
2/12/2026HouseRead first time
2/11/2026HouseCommittee substitute printed 26107499D-H1
2/9/2026HouseHouse subcommittee offered
2/9/2026HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 1-N)
2/9/2026HouseReported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
2/9/2026HouseFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB852)
2/6/2026HouseAssigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
2/5/2026HouseReported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
2/4/2026HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
1/30/2026HouseAssigned HCJ sub: Criminal
1/29/2026HouseReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
1/13/2026HousePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104806D
1/13/2026House
Bill Text
Substitute
2/9/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
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