SB 965 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

District courts; recording of proceedings.

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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 6, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
This bill finalizes the text of SB 965, converting it from an enrolled bill to a chaptered act (Chapter 509) for the 2025 Virginia Session. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, maintaining provisions that allow parties or counsel to make audio recordings in general district courts while permitting judges of juvenile and domestic relations courts to impose confidentiality restrictions.
TECHNICAL

Formatting and layout changes converting the bill from enrolled version to chaptered act format, including addition of chapter number, approval date, and spacing adjustments.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 17, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

400
Passed
Total votes 40
Jan 17, 2025
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
3
Mar 24, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 509 (Effective 07/01/25)
executive
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB965ER)
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (96-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendments waived
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jennifer Carroll Foy
Jennifer Carroll Foy
DDemocratic
VA
33