VA HB885

Establishes a Court Date Reminder Program requiring the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to send text message notifications to criminal defendants in general district and circuit courts prior to scheduled hearings

Requires law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, and court staff to collect defendant telephone numbers during summonses, booking, and other relevant documents, with numbers protected from use for investigative purposes and redacted from public court records

Defendants may opt out of the program at any time, and refusal to provide a phone number cannot be held against them or used as evidence of guilt

Failure to receive a reminder notification does not excuse a defendant's legal obligation to appear or serve as a defense to failure-to-appear charges

Creates a work group of judges, clerks, law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, and community representatives to advise on implementation and submit recommendations by December 1, 2026, with the program taking effect July 1, 2027