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SB83Introduced in the Senate

District or circuit court; possession of portable electronic devices.

Vetoed

Introduced by Saddam Salim, District 37

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Security policies for courthouses and local or regional correctional facilities; penalty. Adds several provisions relating to courthouse and courtroom security. The bill 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 provides that if a sheriff allows courthouse employees to bypass any security screening required to enter a courthouse, such sheriff shall also exempt from the security screening any attorney who displays a valid Virginia State Bar-issued bar card and a government-issued identification. The bill creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any attorney who has had his license to practice law in the Commonwealth suspended or revoked and who displays a Virginia State Bar-issued bar card in an effort to be exempt from the security screening. Finally, the bill requires the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to develop and establish minimum standards to ensure that attorneys have sufficient opportunities to have confidential visits with their clients and requires sheriffs or jail superintendents to provide a telephonic, electronic, or web-based communication method for prisoners in local correctional facilities to communicate with attorneys.

Where it stands

Vetoed by Governor

May 19, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: House amendments agreed to by Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A) · March 6, 2026

26

Yes

14

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.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100784D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Senate committee offered

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB83)

  5. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

  6. Committee substitute printed 26105369D-S1

  7. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  8. Rules suspended

  9. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

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

  11. Read second time

  12. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  14. Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A)

  15. Placed on Calendar

  16. Read first time

  17. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB83)

  19. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

  20. Read second time

  21. Read third time

  22. committee amendments agreed to

  23. Engrossed by House as amended

  24. Passed House with amendments (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  25. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

  26. Passed House with amendments (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. House amendments agreed to by Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)

  28. Enrolled

  29. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB83ER)

  30. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB83)

  31. Signed by Speaker

  32. Signed by President

  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 Senate

  36. Passed by for the day

  37. Communicated to Governor

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

  39. Governor's Veto Received by Senate

  40. Vetoed by Governor

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