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HB872Introduced in the House of Delegates

Portable electronic devices; possession in district or circuit court, policies set by chief judge.

Passed

Introduced by Rae Cousins, District 79

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Possession of portable electronic device in district or circuit court. 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. The bill authorizes such chief judge to condition the use and possession of portable electronic devices upon certain limitations. The bill also requires that any such policy be conspicuously posted at the entrance of the courthouse and available on the Virginia Judicial System's website, the district or circuit court's individual website, or a local government website that also has information about such district or circuit court.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1130)

May 20, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (88-Y 6-N 0-A) · March 4, 2026

88

Yes

6

No

5

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103145D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872)

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N)

  6. Committee substitute printed 26106903D-H1

  7. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  8. Read first time

  9. Read second time

  10. committee substitute agreed to

  11. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  12. Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  14. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872)

  16. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

  17. Senate committee offered

  18. Rules suspended

  19. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  20. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  21. Committee substitute printed 26108387D-S1

  22. Read third time

  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872)

  24. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  25. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  26. Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 17-N 0-A)

  27. Senate substitute agreed to by House (88-Y 6-N 0-A)

  28. Enrolled

  29. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB872ER)

  30. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB872)

  31. Signed by President

  32. Signed by Speaker

  33. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  34. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  35. Governor's recommendation received by House

  36. Governor's recommendation passed by

  37. Communicated to Governor

  38. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  39. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1130 (effective 7/1/2026)

  40. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1130)

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