VirginiaDistrict or circuit court; possession of portable electronic devices.
What it does
Security policies for courthouses and local or regional correctional facilities; penalty. Adds several provisions relating to courthouse and courtroom security. The bill 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.
More detail
The bill authorizes such chief judge to condition the use and possession of portable electronic devices upon certain limitations. The bill also provides that if a sheriff allows courthouse employees to bypass any security screening required to enter a courthouse, such sheriff shall also exempt from the security screening any attorney who displays a valid Virginia State Bar-issued bar card and a government-issued identification. The bill creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any attorney who has had his license to practice law in the Commonwealth suspended or revoked and who displays a Virginia State Bar-issued bar card in an effort to be exempt from the security screening. Finally, the bill requires the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to develop and establish minimum standards to ensure that attorneys have sufficient opportunities to have confidential visits with their clients and requires sheriffs or jail superintendents to provide a telephonic, electronic, or web-based communication method for prisoners in local correctional facilities to communicate with attorneys.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 11Governor's recommendation received by SenateLatest
- Mar 14Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 14Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Minor
- Mar 12Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 12Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 12Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB83)
- Mar 12Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB83ER)Major
- Mar 12EnrolledMinor
- Mar 6House amendments agreed to by Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded Concur House Amendments R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Passed House with amendments (99-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
- Mar 4Passed House with amendments (97-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed House
- Mar 4Engrossed by House as amended
- Mar 4committee amendments agreed toMajor
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 3Read second timeMinor
- Mar 2Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB83)
- Feb 18Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 18Read first timeMinor
- Feb 18Placed on Calendar
- Feb 13Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 12Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 12Read second timeMinor
- Feb 11Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 11Rules suspended
- Feb 10Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2Committee substitute printed 26105369D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Feb 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB83)
- Jan 26Senate committee offered
- 2025
- Dec 29Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Dec 29Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100784DIntroduced