# Virginia HB872: Portable electronic devices; possession in district or circuit court, policies set by chief judge.

Virginia HB872, Portable electronic devices; possession in district or circuit court, policies set by chief judge., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Rae Cousins (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-20 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1130)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB872-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB872
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Portable electronic devices; possession in district or circuit court, policies set by chief judge.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-05-20, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1130)
- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (286 yes, 30 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Possession of portable electronic device in district or circuit court. Requires the chief judge of each general district court, juvenile and domestic relations district court, and circuit court to set a policy regarding the use and possession of portable electronic devices by visitors to the court. The bill authorizes such chief judge to condition the use and possession of portable electronic devices upon certain limitations. The bill also requires that any such policy be conspicuously posted at the entrance of the courthouse and available on the Virginia Judicial System's website, the district or circuit court's individual website, or a local government website that also has information about such district or circuit court.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Court visitors gain device data privacy: benefit, low. Courthouse personnel cannot search or access data on a visitor's portable electronic device, including during security screening. Covered devices include phones, laptops, tablets, electronic calendars, e-book readers, smart watches, and similar personal communication devices. Stand-alone cameras an…
- Court recording limits carry device loss risks: cost, low. Portable devices cannot take photos, record audio or video, or livestream audio or video in Virginia courthouses or courtrooms. A district or circuit court judge must give written permission first for any such use. Devices used against a court policy or court order may be confiscated. The court or…
- Court visitors get device access with limits: mixed, low. Virginia district and circuit court chief judges must set written rules allowing visitors to bring portable electronic devices. Rules can require screening and silent mode, limit calls, and control where devices are used. Courtroom use can require a judge's approval. Rules must explain how visitors…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 88 | 6 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 23 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (40)

- 2026-05-20: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1130) (Governor)
- 2026-05-20: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1130 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation passed by (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Communicated to Governor (House)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB872ER) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Senate substitute agreed to by House (88-Y 6-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108387D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26106903D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103145D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-05-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225768.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225767.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219069.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199386.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199385.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186626.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186625.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181444.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181443.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127425.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127424.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107816.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107815.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086267.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086266.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225768.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225767.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219069.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199386.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199385.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186626.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186625.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181444.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181443.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127425.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127424.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107816.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107815.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086267.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086266.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB872-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).