HB441
Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission; reform, increases membership.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
March 5, 2026
Senate: Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (13-Y 0-N)
Chief Patron:
Patrick Hope (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission; reform.
Increases from seven to 12 the number of members of the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission (the Commission) by adding two additional attorney members, an additional active judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and two additional citizen members. The bill provides that such attorney members be chosen by ... (More) members of the General Assembly from recommendations provided by the Council of the Virginia State Bar, the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, and the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and reduces the required years of practice for such lawyer members from 15 to eight. The bill establishes an initial and subsequent annual training requirement for each member and any newly hired counsel for the Commission. Additionally, the bill requires the Commission to adopt and implement a conflict of interest policy. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104937D
- 01/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/23/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB441)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
- 01/30/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/04/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/04/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)
- 02/10/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/11/2026 - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
- 02/11/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26106142D-H1
- 02/13/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/16/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/17/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (13-Y 0-N)
