# Virginia SB848: Newport News & Hampton, Cities of; pilot prog. for compensation of private court-appointed counsel.

Virginia SB848, Newport News & Hampton, Cities of; pilot prog. for compensation of private court-appointed counsel., is a 2027 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mamie E. Locke (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-10-26 (Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB848-2027
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB848
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Newport News & Hampton, Cities of; pilot prog. for compensation of private court-appointed counsel.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-10-26
- Last action: 2026-10-26, Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton; hourly rate; felony fee caps; report; sunset. Creates a two-year pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton. The bill provides guidelines for the pilot program and requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to report on the pilot program on or before December 1, 2028. The bill provides that the pilot program sunsets on June 30, 2029.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (2)

- 2026-10-26: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-10-26: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2027 27100507D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-10-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1232031.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1232030.PDF)

## Related bills

- SR173: Seeking the expulsion of Senator L. Louise Lucas. (in committee)
- SB4004: Suspension of statewide fuel taxes; emergency. (in committee)
- SB846: Hampton University; recognition and restoration of status as a land-grant university, report. (in committee)
- SB845: Pregnant & postpartum inmates; reporting requirements of state, regional, & local correctional fac. (in committee)
- SB847: Human trafficking and ongoing domestic violence; issuance of writs of vacatur for victims, sealing. (in committee)
- SB849: Income tax, state; establishes a new bracket on income above $1 million. (in committee)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1232031.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1232030.PDF)

## Related
- [SR173: Seeking the expulsion of Senator L. Louise Lucas.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SR173-2027)
- [SB4004: Suspension of statewide fuel taxes; emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB4004-2027)
- [SB846: Hampton University; recognition and restoration of status as a land-grant unive…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB846-2027)
- [SB845: Pregnant & postpartum inmates; reporting requirements of state, regional, & loc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB845-2027)
- [SB847: Human trafficking and ongoing domestic violence; issuance of writs of vacatur f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB847-2027)
- [SB849: Income tax, state; establishes a new bracket on income above $1 million.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB849-2027)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB848-2027 (as of 2026-11-04).