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Bill

HB 276

Virginia State Bar; rules and regulations relating to schedule of fees for members.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Will Davis and 2 co-sponsors

Virginia State Bar gains independent authority to set member fees and dues through regulations instead of requiring legislative approval for each change.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0584)
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Bill Summary · HB 276

Legislative bill overview

HB 276 grants the Virginia State Bar authority to establish and modify its own fee schedule for member dues and services through regulatory rules rather than legislative approval. The bill streamlines the fee-setting process by removing the requirement for legislative action each time the Bar adjusts its fees.

Why is this important

This change affects approximately 40,000+ Virginia attorneys and determines how much they pay in annual dues and service fees. It also impacts access to justice and legal services costs, since Bar fees can indirectly influence legal service pricing in the state. The shift delegates financial governance authority from the legislature to the Bar's governing body.

Potential points of contention

  • Professional autonomy vs. accountability: Removes legislative oversight of Bar finances, raising questions about whether a self-regulating body should set its own mandatory fees without direct elected representative approval
  • Fee increases without recourse: Attorney members lose a legislative avenue to challenge fee increases and must instead rely on Bar governance processes, which may be less accessible to individual practitioners
  • Regulatory capture concerns: Concentrated fee-setting authority within Bar leadership could favor established firms over solo practitioners or smaller operations with different fee-paying capacity

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

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