Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB872: An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 16.1-69.35:4 and 17.1-128.2, relating to possession of a portable electronic device in district or circuit court.
Status: Chaptered, May 20, 2026
Possession of portable electronic device in district or circuit court. Requires the chief judge of each general district court, juvenile and domestic relations district court, and circuit court to set a policy regarding the use and possession of portable electronic devices by visitors to the court. The bill authorizes such chief judge to condition the use and possession of portable electronic devices upon certain limitations. The bill also requires that any such policy be conspicuously posted at the entrance of the courthouse and available on the Virginia Judicial System's website, the district or circuit court's individual website, or a local government website that also has information about such district or circuit court.
What the bill says
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 16.1-69.35:4 and 17.1-128.2, relating to possession of a portable electronic device in district or circuit court. [H 872] Approved May 20, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 16.1-69.35:4 and 17.1-128.2 as follows: § 16.1-69.35:4. Possession and use of portable electronic device in district courts. A. As used in this (ii) a tablet; (iii) a mobile telephone, including a cell phone and any telephone with a camera, audio and video recording capabilities, and transmission capabilities; (iv) an ele.
From the enrolled text, May 20, 2026:
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 16.1-69.35:4 and 17.1-128.2, relating to possession of a portable electronic device in district or circuit court. [H 872] Approved May 20, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 16.1-69.35:4 and 17.1-128.2 as follows: § 16.1-69.35:4. Possession and use of portable electronic device in district courts. A. As used in this (ii) a tablet; (iii) a mobile telephone, including a cell phone and any telephone with a camera, audio and video recording capabilities, and transmission capabilities; (iv) an electronic calendar; (v) an electronic book reader; (vi) a smart watch; or (vii) any other electronic personal communication device. "Portable electronic device" does not include a camera, a video camera, video or audio recording equipment, or a recording device that is not otherwise a component of a portable electronic device. "Visitor to the court" means a member of the public who is not an active or retired judge, a magistrate, an attorney-at-law who possesses and presents a valid state bar identification card, a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101 or court security officer, a probation officer who possesses and presents proper credentials and who is at the courthouse in the conduct of his official duties, a state or local agency employee who possesses and …