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HB 933

Penalties for failure to appear; contempt.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marcus Simon

Virginia bill clarifies court failure-to-appear penalties and contempt charges, with revised provisions passed by criminal justice committee after substantial amendments.

Committee substitute printed 26106485D-H1
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Bill Summary · HB 933

Legislative bill overview

HB 933 modifies Virginia's penalties for failure to appear in court and contempt charges. The bill, sponsored by Marcus Simon, has progressed through the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and the full Courts of Justice Committee with substitute amendments, indicating significant revisions to the original proposal.

Why is this important

Failure-to-appear penalties directly affect court operations, public safety, and individual accountability in the criminal justice system. Changes to these provisions impact how courts enforce attendance requirements and can influence bail practices, defendant behavior, and justice system efficiency across Virginia.

Potential points of contention

  • Severity of penalties: Disagreement over whether proposed penalties are proportionate or constitute overreach in punishing non-violent failures to appear
  • Equity concerns: Questions about whether penalty structures disproportionately impact lower-income defendants who may have logistical barriers to court attendance
  • Contempt definitions: Debate over how broadly "contempt" is defined and whether the bill adequately distinguishes between willful violations and legitimate obstacles to appearance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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