HB223Introduced in the House of Delegates
Public defender; local funding for positions.
Introduced by Patrick Hope, District 1
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Public defender; local funding for positions. Allows the governing body of any county or city to fund positions in the office of the public defender.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0092)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 4, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102399D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB223)
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice (18-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB223ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB223)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 92 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0092)
Verify the information
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