SB798 • 2026

Boyd-Graves Conference, et al.; work group to address legal deserts within the Commonwealth, report.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to direct the Boyd-Graves Conference and Virginia Criminal Justice Conference to convene a work group to address legal deserts within the Commonwealth; report.</p>

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Mulchi
Last action: 2026-02-11
Official status: Continued
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify who exactly will be affected by the bill beyond the organizations involved.

Boyd-Graves Conference and Virginia Criminal Justice Conference; Work Group to Address Legal Deserts

This bill directs the Boyd-Graves Conference and Virginia Criminal Justice Conference to form a work group that will study legal deserts in Virginia and report their findings by November 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Directs the Boyd-Graves Conference and Virginia Criminal Justice Conference to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to address disparities in the geographical distribution of available legal services within the Commonwealth.
The work group must define what 'legal desert' means in Virginia.
Requires the work group to suggest ways to improve access to legal services for citizens of Virginia.
Asks the work group to report their findings and suggestions to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

The Boyd-Graves Conference
Virginia Criminal Justice Conference

Terms To Know

legal desert: An area where there is a lack of available legal services and representation.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what actions will be taken based on the work group's report.
It is unclear how the findings from this work group will influence future legislation or policies.

Bill History

2026-02-11 Courts of Justice
Continued to 2027 in Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-11 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-01-23 Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26104548D
2026-01-23 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Boyd-Graves Conference and Virginia Criminal Justice Conference; work group to address legal deserts within the Commonwealth; report.
Directs the Boyd-Graves Conference, in conjunction with the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference, to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to make recommendations for legislative solutions to address the disparities in the geographical distribution of available legal services within the Commonwealth. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL NO. 798

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Mulchi)

A BILL to direct the Judicial Council of Virginia to convene a work group to address legal deserts within the Commonwealth; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the
Judicial Council of Virginia
shall convene a work group of relevant stakeholders
to make recommendations
for legislative solutions to
address
the disparities in the geographical distribution of available legal services
, known as legal deserts,
within the Commonwealth.

The work group shall be composed of

(i) two members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; (ii) two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; (iii) the Attorney General, or his de
signee; (iv) the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, or his designee; (v) the
Commissioner
of the Virginia Department o
f
Workforce Development and Advancement, or his designee; (vi) two attorneys for the Commonwealth representing the Virginia
Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys
;
(vii)

the Executive
Director
of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, or his designee
;
(viii)
the President of the Virginia State Bar, or his designee;
(
i
x
)
one
representative of a
law school of a
public institutio
n of higher education
;
(
x
)
one representative of a
law school of a
nonprofit private institution of higher education; (
x
i
)
a representative of a legal aid society; (x
i
i
)
one nonlegislative citizen member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates;
and
(
x
iii
)

one nonlegislative
citizen member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. Each nonlegislative citizen member
shall be a public defender, retired attorney, retired judge, or attorney
who is an active member of the Virginia State Bar and is
currently
engaged
in
the
private practice
of law
in the Commonwealth.

The
work group shall create a definition of "legal desert"
and shall make recommendations for enhancing access to justice, legal advice and guidance, and constitutionally guaranteed legal representation for citizens
of the Commonwealth
.
The work group shall
submit a
report
of
its findings and recommendations
to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2026.