VirginiaPerson not free on bail; court appearance, right to counsel.
What it does
Court appearance of a person not free on bail. Makes various changes to provisions regarding bail hearings in jurisdictions having a public defender office, including (i) the appointment of counsel for the accused and (ii) a requirement that counsel for the accused, when practicable, be provided with adequate time to confer with the accused prior to any bail hearing. The bill also allows a jurisdiction that does not have a public defender office establish to implement such provisions.
More detail
The bill provides that, effective in due course, the chief judge in each circuit shall create a plan to be completed by November 1, 2026, that establishes the means by which the jurisdiction will meet such provisions. The remaining provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 3Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)Latest
- Vote recorded Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)
- Feb 23Committee substitute printed 26108450D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 3-N)Minor
- Feb 19Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)
- Feb 16Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 16Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 13Read third time and passed House (84-Y 10-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amendedMajor
- Feb 12committee amendment agreed toMajor
- Feb 12committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 12Read second timeMinor
- Feb 11Read first timeMinor
- Feb 9Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6House subcommittee offered
- Feb 5Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital OutlayMinor
- Feb 4Committee substitute printed 26106177D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Feb 4Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 11:49 am)
- Feb 4Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 11:36 am)
- Jan 28Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28House subcommittee offered
- Jan 22Assigned HCJ sub: CriminalMinor
- Jan 21Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)
- Jan 2Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 2Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101174DIntroduced
- Mar 3Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)Latest