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VA HB852
Bill
Status
Engrossed
2/12/2026
Primary Sponsor
Rae Cousins
Click for details
AI Summary
- Abolishes fees charged to indigent defendants for court-appointed legal representation costs paid by the Commonwealth or locality
- Eliminates jury trial costs as an assessable fee against defendants in criminal cases
- Removes the requirement for courts to assess legal representation costs as part of prosecution costs against convicted defendants
- Prohibits courts from requiring indigent parties to reimburse guardian ad litem costs, removing the previous "good cause" exception
- Requires the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to report biannually to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees on guardian ad litem program expenditures, reimbursements, and savings achieved
Legislative Description
Indigent defendant; abolition of fees, legal representation, jury trial costs, report.
Last Action
Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
3/3/2026
Committee Referrals
Finance and Appropriations2/23/2026
Courts of Justice2/16/2026
Appropriations: General Government & Capital Outlay2/5/2026
Appropriations2/4/2026
Courts of Justice: Criminal1/29/2026
Courts of Justice1/13/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available