Bill Commons

VA HB 718

in committee

Summons; issuance instead of warrant in certain cases.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Description

Issuance of summons instead of warrant in certain cases. Provides that in any misdemeanor case or in any class of misdemeanor cases other than Class 1 or 2 misdemeanors, or in any case involving complaints made by any state or local governmental official or employee having responsibility for the enforcement of any statute, ordinance, or administrative regulation, the magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction may issue a summons instead of a warrant only upon a showing of evidence that the accused is willing and able to appear in the courts having jurisdiction over the trial of the offense charged. The bill further provides that in cases involving Class 1 or 2 misdemeanors, the magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction shall issue a warrant for such alleged offense unless he finds that there is reason to believe that the person charged will appear in the courts having jurisdiction over the trial of the offense charged. The bill requires the magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction to submit, in writing, the facts supporting his decision to issue a summons instead of a warrant, which shall be filed with the summons in the court file. Under current law, the magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction may issue a summons instead of a warrant when there is reason to believe that the person charged will appear in the courts having jurisdiction over the trial of the offense charged.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Status date
—
Latest action
2026-02-18 — Left in Committee Courts of Justice
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Eric R. Zehrprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103822D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-02-02

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB718)

  4. 2026-02-05

    Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

    referral-committee

  5. 2026-02-06

    Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)

  6. 2026-02-18

    Left in Committee Courts of Justice

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends laying on the table

    2026-02-06 · pass · 7-3

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Will Davis: no
    • Madison Whittle: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB718

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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