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Civil Subcommittee

Wednesday, February 25, 2026·1h 20m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Civil Subcommittee advanced three bills — a technology trust fund fee increase, a guardianship rights bill (reported with substitute), and a voice and likeness protection bill — with all three passing over individual dissenting votes and drawing pointed debate over drafting mechanics, fee double-charging, and the risks of family members acting on behalf of incapacitated respondents.

Key Actions

·Bill 725 – Technology Trust Fund Fee IncreasePassed

+ 2 more actions

Controversies

Technology trust fund fee double-charging by clerks

An unnamed delegate/chair argued that clerks already collect the technology fee 'three or four times on the same document' and that a bill he supported to prevent double-charging on multi-use documents had died in the Senate, and stated he would vote no on the fee increase. Carlos Hopkins did not directly dispute the double-charging claim but noted the bill includes a reporting requirement and that fees cannot be used on personnel costs.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“The goal is to offer protection for folks like recording artists, actors, others whose voice and likeness is their livelihood. And as technology progresses and deepfake AI software becomes publicly accessible, I believe this is a measured way for the state to offer those protections.”

Senator Reeves — Senator Reeves was explaining the purpose of SB753, which adds 'voice' and 'likeness' to the existing statute allowing suits in equity for unauthorized commercial use.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Move to report — Bill 725 (Technology Trust Fund Fee Increase)Passed
Amendment to substitute SB345 — limit bill to 64.2-2006 changes only, removing jury trial request language in 64.2-2007No Vote
Move to report SB345 with substitutePassed
Motion to report SB753Passed
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TranscriptPreview
This meeting to order. And so if anybody's out there watching on tv, waiting to see us come in, we are in. We're ready. We're waiting for you. And with that, the subcommittee will be at ease. It. All right, Senator Jones. All right, the first members will take attendance so we can see that we have a quorum. And the clerk will close the roll. Quorum is present. All right, Senator Jo. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee, it's good to see so many of you. And then again, my. My condolences on the loss of delegate Knight. So just want to say that was that. I'm sorry. I'm just a pastor, just trying to get through life, loving everybody. Mr. Chair. PBI okay, that's fine. No, no, Bill. 725 is really straightforward. It's an increase to the technology trust fund fee from $5 to $8 per civil filing. It's something that hasn't been touched in decades, and we're just trying to allow them to keep pace from a technological standpoint. It reallocates the fee to strengthen modernization efforts. And that. I would hate to belabor the point and just go through all these wonderful talking points…
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