The Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Criminal Law voted to recommend reporting HB 1757, a bill that clarifies the assessment of legal fees for indigent defendants so that fees are the same whether a defendant is represented by court-appointed counsel or by a public defender.

Patron Delegate Hernandez said the bill remedies a disparity created by two measures from last year: HB 102, which limited fees for court-appointed counsel and became law, and a separate vetoed bill that would have limited fees for public defenders. "This little bill just remedies that disparity," Hernandez said, adding the change had been coordinated with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court and was recommended by the Indigent Defense Commission.

Representatives from the Indigent Defense Commission and the Office of the Executive Secretary testified in support. Allison Powers, director of policy and education at the Indigent Defense Commission, and Eileen Longenecker of OES described the bill as a clarification that aligns current practice and said they did not expect a fiscal impact. Outside supporters included Brad Haywood (on behalf of Justice Forward Virginia) and Mark Dix representing the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

After brief questioning on fiscal impacts and confirmation that the bill is intended as a statutory clarification, the subcommittee voted to recommend reporting HB 1757 by a vote of 7–1. The committee record shows no further amendments in subcommittee; the bill will advance with the committee’s recommendation.