# Virginia SB82: Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.

Virginia SB82, Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0160)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB82-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB82
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-12-29
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0160)
- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (207 yes, 21 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys. Provides that no clerk shall charge a fee to an attorney for secure remote access to nonconfidential court records when such attorney is certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the jurisdiction served by such clerk, provided that such attorney is currently appointed to represent a defendant in such jurisdiction and agrees to continue accepting appointments in such jurisdiction. The bill also provides that if, after receiving secure remote access for nonconfidential court records, such attorney (i) is found to have abused such privilege of such secure remote access; (ii) is removed from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission's court-appointed attorney list; or (iii) ceases to accept appointments for representation from the granting court, the clerk may terminate the agreement granting such secure remote access. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill is identical to HB 520.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- No clerk fees for records and liens: benefit, low. The circuit court clerk does not charge fees for many record tasks. This includes orders of publication; keeping, indexing, and making judgment records public; marking liens satisfied; docketing judgments on forfeited recognizances or bonds; reports to the Central Criminal Records Exchange; recordi…
- No clerk fees for small bonds: benefit, low. The circuit court clerk cannot charge fees to take a bond, give oaths, or make or copy orders for listed local officials when the bond penalty is $1,000 or less. Covered officials include a judge, magistrate, sheriff, treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, their deputies, an escheator, a superviso…
- Veterans record filings are free: benefit, low. Clerks do not charge to copy or record a veteran’s induction or discharge records, or certified discharge copies. Clerks also do not charge to record required reports by special receivers and commissioners. They do not charge to receive a mark of designation under state law.
- No fees for certified criminal judgments: benefit, low. The circuit court clerk does not charge the Department of Corrections or federal probation officers for certified copies of criminal judgment or sentencing orders. These certified documents are free for those agencies.
- Free remote records for indigent defenders: mixed, low. Attorneys certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in this court’s area get free secure remote access to nonconfidential court records. They must be currently appointed to represent a defendant here and agree to keep taking appointments. The clerk can end access if the attorney abuses…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 28 | 12 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 4 |   |
| 2026-01-21 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 |   |

## Actions (29)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0160) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 160 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB82) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB82ER) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 12-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Engrossed by Senate committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB82) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Committee substitute printed 26105930D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2025-12-29: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-12-29: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101498D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216896.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216895.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177070.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177069.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095146.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095145.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-12-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082151.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082150.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/1216896.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216895.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177070.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177069.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095146.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095145.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082151.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082150.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-SB82-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).