2025 Regular SessionVirginia Legislature

SB965: District courts; recording of proceedings.

Legislative Summary

Recording of proceedings in district courts. Allows an audio recording of proceedings in a district court, which includes both general district court and juvenile and domestic relations district court, to be made by a party or his counsel. Under current law, such recordings are only allowed in a general district court.Additionally, the bill (i) allows the judge of a juvenile and domestic relations district court to impose any restriction as necessary to comply with the confidentiality requirements applicable to such district court and (ii) prohibits the judge of a district court from (a) ordering or requiring a party or his counsel to submit a copy of such audio recording or transcript of such recording to the clerk of a district court to be maintained in such party's individual case file or (b) prohibiting a party or his counsel from providing such copy or transcript to the opposing party or his counsel.

Demographic Impact

Overall analysis of equity impact

70% Positive
High ConfidenceView detailed demographic breakdown ↓

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Bill History

1/6/2025
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25104354D
Senate
1/6/2025
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Senate
1/11/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB965)
Senate
1/15/2025
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/17/2025
Rules suspended
Senate
1/17/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/17/2025
Passed by for the day
Senate
1/20/2025
Read second time
Senate
1/20/2025
Reading of amendments waived
Senate
1/20/2025
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
Senate
1/20/2025
Engrossed by Senate as amended
Senate
1/20/2025
Printed as engrossed 25104354D-E
Senate
1/21/2025
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/25/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB965)
Senate
2/5/2025
Placed on Calendar
House of Delegates
2/5/2025
Read first time
House of Delegates
2/5/2025
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
House of Delegates
2/5/2025
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
House of Delegates
2/7/2025
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
2/10/2025
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
2/12/2025
Read second time
House of Delegates
2/13/2025
Read third time
House of Delegates
2/13/2025
Passed House (96-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
2/18/2025
Enrolled
Senate
2/18/2025
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB965ER)
Senate
2/18/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB965)
Senate
2/18/2025
Signed by Speaker
House of Delegates
2/20/2025
Signed by President
Senate
3/3/2025
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025
Senate
3/3/2025
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
3/24/2025
Approved by Governor-Chapter 509 (Effective 07/01/25)
3/24/2025
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0509)

Amendments

Courts of Justice Amendments

Courts of Justice Amendments

Not Adopted

Courts of Justice Amendments

Courts of Justice Amendments

Not Adopted

Roll Call Votes

Passed House (96-Y 0-N)
2/13/2025
96
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
4
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
2/10/2025
22
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
2/7/2025
8
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
1/21/2025
40
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N)
1/17/2025
40
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N)
1/15/2025
15
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Passed(3/24/2025)
Chamber
Senate

Sponsors

Democrat: 1

Documents

Chaptered
Bill Text3/24/20252.5 KB
Enrolled
Bill Text2/18/20253.1 KB
Engrossed
Bill Text1/20/20254.5 KB
Introduced
Bill Text1/6/20253.9 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis2/18/2025100.7 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/25/202598.9 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/11/202596.9 KB