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SB82 • 2026

Clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.

An Act to amend and reenact § 17.1-267 of the Code of Virginia, relating to clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Salim
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Free Access to Nonconfidential Court Records for Certain Attorneys

This act makes it free for certain attorneys certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and currently appointed to represent defendants in their area to get secure remote access to nonconfidential court records.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes sure clerks do not charge fees to specific lawyers who want secure remote access to nonconfidential court documents when these lawyers are certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and currently appointed to represent defendants in their area, provided they agree to continue accepting such appointments.
  • Allows clerks to terminate this free access if a lawyer abuses it, is removed from the commission's list, or stops accepting new cases.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Lawyers who are certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and currently appointed to represent defendants in their area.
  • Clerks of courts in Virginia.

Terms To Know

Indigent Defense Commission
A group that certifies lawyers who take on cases for people who cannot afford legal help.
Secure Remote Access
The ability to view court records online in a safe and private way.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Only applies to nonconfidential court records, so some information may still be restricted.
  • The act only affects certain lawyers who meet specific criteria.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 160 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 160 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0160)

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB82)

  7. 2026-02-24 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Signed by President

  9. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB82ER)

  11. 2026-02-23 House

    Read third time

  12. 2026-02-23 House

    Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-20 House

    Read second time

  14. 2026-02-18 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)

  15. 2026-02-12 House

    Placed on Calendar

  16. 2026-02-12 House

    Read first time

  17. 2026-02-12 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  18. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 12-N 0-A)

  19. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Read second time

  20. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  21. 2026-02-05 Courts of Justice

    Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  22. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Rules suspended

  24. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  25. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  26. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-02-03 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)

  29. 2026-01-28 Courts of Justice

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB82)

  30. 2026-01-23 Courts of Justice

    Committee substitute printed 26105930D-S1

  31. 2026-01-21 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  32. 2025-12-29 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101498D

  33. 2025-12-29 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend and reenact §
17.1-267
of the Code of Virginia, relating to clerk fees; secure remote access to nonconfidential court records by certain attorneys.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
17.1-267
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
17.1-267
. Services for which clerks may not charge.
A. No clerk shall charge for taking bond from, administering oath to, or making or copying orders as to the appointment or qualification of any judge, magistrate, sheriff, treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, or of a deputy of any of them, or of any escheator, supervisor, or of a guardian or conservator, when his bond is in a penalty not exceeding $1,000.00, or for making or copying orders as to county allowances, or grand juries, and administering the necessary oaths.
B. No clerk shall charge for copying or making for or furnishing to the Department of Corrections or a federal probation officer a certified copy of a criminal judgment order or criminal sentencing order.
C. No clerk shall charge a fee for (i) executing any order of publication under §
17.1-626
; (ii) keeping, preserving, and holding available for public inspection judgment records, and making entries in and indexing such judgments, or discharging, or marking satisfied, a lien under §§
15.2-2604
,
15.2-2605
and
15.2-2120
; (iii) docketing judgment on forfeited recognizance or bond under §
19.2-147
; (iv) making out reports to the Central Criminal Records Exchange under §
19.2-390
; (v) recording a lien in the miscellaneous lien book under §
43-42
or §
43-43
; or (vi) filing an appraiser's report under §
56-436
.
D. No clerk shall charge a fee for (i) recording the reports of special receivers and commissioners as required by §
8.01-617
; (ii) copying in the Induction and Discharge Record information obtained from draft boards or recording the discharge papers, or certified copy of such, of a person who has served in the armed forces of the United States; or (iii) receiving any mark of designation under §
59.1-103
.
E. No clerk shall charge a fee to an attorney for secure remote access to nonconfidential court records under Article 8 (§
17.1-292
et seq.) 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.
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.