Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1865: Virginia Access to Justice Act; establishes public defender office in each judicial circuit.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1865 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 6, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Virginia Access to Justice Act; establishes public defender office in each judicial circuit. Primary sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 4, 2025): Left in Appropriations.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Virginia Access to Justice Act. Establishes a public defender office in each judicial circuit. Currently, public defender offices have been established in certain localities. The bill also establishes an appellate defender office to represent indigent persons in appeals of their convictions to the Court of Appeals of Virginia or Supreme Court of Virginia. The bill raises the limitation of fees that court-appointed counsel can receive for representation on various offenses in district and circuit courts. Further, the bill requires the attorney for the Commonwealth and assistant attorney for the Commonwealth to prosecute Class 1, 2, and 3 misdemeanors, or any other violation, the conviction of which carries a penalty of confinement in jail, or a fine of $500 or more, or both such confinement and fine. Current law allows discretion for prosecuting such misdemeanors and violations. Lastly, the bill expands the definition of "victim" as it relates to compensating victims of crime to include persons awarded restitution pursuant to relevant law.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katrina Callsen | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 54 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Appropriations
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1865)
- Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (14-Y 8-N)
- Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N)
- Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25100088D