HB852Introduced in the House of Delegates
Indigent defendant; abolition of fees, legal representation, jury trial costs, report.
Introduced by Rae Cousins, District 79
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Abolition of fees; legal representation of indigent defendant; jury trial costs; report. Eliminates the fees for the cost of court-appointed counsel or public defender representation for persons who are determined to be indigent. The bill also eliminates fees for persons who utilize a jury trial. The bill contains a reenactment clause for such elimination of fees.The bill also directs the Indigent Defense Commission, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court or his designee, to convene a work group with all relevant stakeholders, including the Attorney General or his designee, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources or his designee; representatives from the Compensation Board, the Virginia Crime Commission, the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the Virginia Court Clerk's Association, the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, staff from the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and the Virginia Probation and Parole Association; and a minimum of two criminal justice reform organizations working on fees and other financial assessments imposed in criminal prosecutions in Virginia; on several topics, including current collection practices, use of funds received as a result of such collections, and the burden of a fee assessment on indigent individuals. The bill requires the work group to submit an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2026, and a final report by November 1, 2027.
Where it stands
Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
March 3, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) · March 3, 2026
14
Yes
0
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| Creigh Deeds | 11 | Yes |
| Lashrecse Aird | 13 | Yes |
| Lamont Bagby | 14 | Absent |
| Louise Lucas | 18 | Yes |
| Aaron Rouse | 22 | Yes |
| Mamie Locke | 23 | Yes |
| Richard Stuart | 25 | Yes |
| Ryan McDougle | 26 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104806D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB852)
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 1-N)
House subcommittee offered
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107499D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (60-Y 35-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB852)
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
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