Virginia HB 885: Court Date Reminder Program; established, report.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26101227D

HOUSE BILL NO. 885

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-262 and 46.2-388 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 17.1 an article numbered 9, consisting of sections numbered 17.1-296 through 17.1-299, relating to Court Date Reminder Program established.

—————

Patrons—Hope, Bennett-Parker, Carnegie, Cole, J.G., Cousins, Dougherty, Franklin, M.A., Henson, Keys-Gamarra, Nivar, Price, Schmidt, Thomas, Thornton and Tran

—————

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 16.1-262 and 46.2-388 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 17.1 an article numbered 9, consisting of sections numbered 17.1-296 through 17.1-299, as follows:

§ 16.1-262. Form and content of petition.

A. The petition shall contain the facts below indicated:

"Commonwealth of Virginia, In re ______ (name of child)" a child under eighteen years of age.

"In the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of the county (or city) of ______ "

1. Statement of name, age, date of birth, phone number, if known, and residence of the child.

2. Statement of names and, residence, and phone numbers of his parents, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis and spouse, if any.

3. Statement of names and, residence, and phone numbers of the nearest known relatives if no parent or guardian can be found.

4. Statement of the specific facts which allegedly bring the child within the purview of this law. If the petition alleges a delinquent act, it shall make reference to the applicable sections of the Code which designate the act a crime.

5. Statement as to whether the child is in custody, and if so, the place of detention or shelter care, and the time the child was taken into custody, and the time the child was placed in detention or shelter care.

B. If the subject of the petition is an adult, the petition shall not state or include the name of or any information concerning the parents, guardians, legal custodian, or person standing in loco parentis of the adult subject of the petition except as may be necessary to state the conduct alleged in the petition.

C. If any of the facts herein required to be stated are not known by the petitioner, the petition shall so state. The petition shall be verified, except that petitions filed under § 63.2-1237 may be signed by the petitioner's counsel, and may be upon information. Any phone number collected or listed on a petition shall only be used for the Court Date Reminder Program established pursuant to § 17.1-296 if applicable to the subject of the petition. If no phone number is listed at the time such petition is filed, the court shall, to the extent feasible, obtain such information at the first appearance of the subject of the petition.

In accordance with § 16.1-69.32, the Supreme Court may formulate rules for the form and content of petitions in the juvenile court concerning matters related to the custody, visitation or support of a child and the protection, support or maintenance of an adult where the provisions of this section are not appropriate.

Article 9.

Court Date Reminder Program.

§ 17.1-296. Court Date Reminder Program; purpose.

The Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall develop or procure a Court Date Reminder Program (the Program) to remind criminal defendants to appear at each of their scheduled court appearances and to provide any related information. The purpose of such reminders is to reduce the number of criminal defendants who are taken into custody solely as a result of their failure to appear in court and to increase court efficiency.

§ 17.1-297. Program requirements.

A. The Program shall send a text message notification to any defendant with a criminal case or traffic infraction in general district court or circuit court. A defendant may opt out of participating in the Program at any time. When a defendant is unable to receive text messages, the Program administrator or his designee may use other communication methods to contact such defendant, including telephone, email, or other internet-based technology. In the case of a juvenile defendant, such notification shall be sent to the juvenile, if he is able to receive text messages, and his parent or legal guardian. If the juvenile is unable to receive text messages, the Program administrator or his designee may use other communication methods, including telephone, email, or other internet-based technology, to contact the juvenile and his parent or legal guardian.

B. The Program shall provide at least two reminder notifications for all scheduled court appearances or required payment dates. The first reminder shall be sent one week prior to a scheduled court appearance or required payment date. The second rem