STATE BILLVA HB 127ENGROSSED

Person not free on bail; court appearance, right to counsel.

Court appearance of a person not free on bail. Makes various changes to provisions regarding bail hearings in jurisdictions having a public defender office, including (i) the appointment of counsel for the accused and (ii) a requirement that counsel for the accused, when practicable, be provided with adequate time to confer with the accused prior to any bail hearing. The bill also allows a jurisdiction that does not have a public defender office establish to implement such provisions. The bill provides that, effective in due course, the chief judge in each circuit shall create a plan to be completed by November 1, 2026, that establishes the means by which the jurisdiction will meet such provisions. The remaining provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Status: Engrossed; Passed its first chamber
Status date: Feb 12, 2026; 273 days ago
Current chamber: Senate
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA HB 127 · EngrossedFeb 12

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Bill details

Last action: Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A) · Mar 3, 2026

Bill history

Newest first.

Mar 3, 2026Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)Senate

Mar 2, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)House

Feb 23, 2026Committee substitute printed 26108450D-S1Senate

Feb 23, 2026Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 3-N)Senate

Feb 19, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)House

Feb 16, 2026Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeSenate

Feb 16, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate

Feb 13, 2026Read third time and passed House (84-Y 10-N 0-A)House

Show 19 earlier actions

Feb 12, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amendedHouse

Feb 12, 2026committee amendment agreed toHouse

Feb 12, 2026committee substitute agreed toHouse

Feb 12, 2026Read second timeHouse

Feb 11, 2026Read first timeHouse

Feb 9, 2026Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N)House

Feb 6, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)House

Feb 6, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse

Feb 5, 2026Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital OutlayHouse

Feb 4, 2026Committee substitute printed 26106177D-H1House

Feb 4, 2026Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)House

Feb 4, 2026Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 11:49 am)House

Feb 4, 2026Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 11:36 am)House

Jan 28, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)House

Jan 28, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse

Jan 22, 2026Assigned HCJ sub: CriminalHouse

Jan 21, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)House

Jan 2, 2026Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeHouse

Jan 2, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101174DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)Jan 28, 2026 · House · 9 yea · 0 nayPassed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)Feb 6, 2026 · House · 7 yea · 0 nayPassed

Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N)Feb 9, 2026 · House · 21 yea · 1 nayPassed

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)Feb 4, 2026 · House · 22 yea · 0 nayPassed

Read third time and passed House (84-Y 10-N 0-A)Feb 13, 2026 · House · 84 yea · 10 nayPassed

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 3-N)Feb 23, 2026 · Senate · 11 yea · 3 nayPassed

Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)Mar 3, 2026 · Senate · 13 yea · 0 nayPassed

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Person not free on bail; court appearance, right to counsel.

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Read the bill at the source

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Person not free on bail; court appearance, right to counsel.

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Read the bill at the source

Start finding government buyers today.It's free.

Start finding government buyers today.
It's free.