Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.
Summary
Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys. Provides that no clerk shall charge a fee to an attorney for secure remote access to nonconfidential court records when such attorney is certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the jurisdiction served by such clerk, provided that such attorney is currently appointed to represent a defendant in such jurisdiction and agrees to continue accepting appointments in such jurisdiction. The bill also provides that if, after receiving secure remote access for nonconfidential court records, such attorney (i) is found to have abused such privilege of such secure remote access; (ii) is removed from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission's court-appointed attorney list; or (iii) ceases to accept appointments for representation from the granting court, the clerk may terminate the agreement granting such secure remote access. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill is identical to HB 520.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Dec 29, 2025
Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Chaptered
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill was finalized and assigned Chapter 160, with the approval date updated to April 6, 2026. The substantive content regarding clerk fees and attorney access to court records remains unchanged from the enrolled version.
TECHNICAL
The approval date was updated from a generic 'Approved' status to a specific date of April 6, 2026, indicating the bill has officially become law.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 4, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 160 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB82ER)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 12-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Dec 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Saddam Salim
DDemocratic
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