APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR

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HB1553 Criminal cases; procedure on appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Status: Pending Governor's action.
Introduced by: Wren M. Williams (Chief Patron) [R]

Status: Passed House and Senate. Awaiting the Governor's communication.

View the bill here.

Removes the requirement that a copy of a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals in a criminal case be mailed or delivered to the Attorney General.
02/12/2025 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1553ER)    
02/12/2025 Signed by Speaker    
02/15/2025 Signed by President

02/18/2025  Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 18, 2025    
02/18/2025 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025

03/24/2025 Approved by Governor-Chapter 367 (Effective 07/01/25)

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FAILED LEGISLATION

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HB847 Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life.

Provides that in any case in which an indigent defendant is charged with any felony punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life, the court shall appoint two competent, qualified, and experienced attorneys, one of whom shall be the public defender in a jurisdiction in which a public defender office is established, for the defendant. Under current law, the court is required to appoint two such attorneys in cases in which an indigent defendant is charged with a Class 1 felony. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.

View the bill here.
01/19/24  House: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
01/22/24  House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
01/26/24  House: Assigned App. sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
01/26/24  House: Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)
01/26/24  House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/29/24  House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 by voice vote
01/31/24  House: Continued to 2025 in Appropriations by voice vote

11/18/24    House    Left in Appropriations

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HB1839 Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing, excluded persons.

View the bill here.
Status: Failed
Introduced by: Delores Oates [R]
Admission of evidence; evidentiary hearing; excluded persons. Exempts one person whose presence, in the judgment of the court, would be supportive of the complaining witness and would not impair the conduct of a fair hearing or pose a substantial risk of influencing or affecting the content of the testimony from being excluded from evidentiary hearings for certain prosecutions. The bill provides that if such support person is exempted, the judge shall admonish such support person to not prompt, communicate with, or influence the complaining witness in any way. Lastly, the bill provides that a court may exercise its discretion to remove the support person from the courtroom if it believes such support person is prompting, communicating with, or influencing the complaining witness.
2/4/2025    House    Left in Courts of Justice

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