VirginiaExemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance, certain benefit payments.
What it does
Exemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance; certain benefit payments; procedure for financial institutions. Requires certain financial institutions to automatically exempt from garnishment (i) a minimum protected account balance, defined in the bill as the combined total of not more than $1,000 in a judgment debtor's account or across multiple accounts in the same financial institution, and (ii) a protected amount of certain benefit payments, defined in the bill, that have been deposited into the account via direct deposit or electronic deposit within the two months immediately preceding the day before a financial institution commences an account review. The bill describes an account review as a process of examining an account of a judgment conducted by a financial institution upon such financial institution's receipt of a garnishment summons to determine if any eligible benefit payments have been deposited within the applicable time period and, if so, to calculate the total sum of such benefit payments and establish the total as a protected amount that shall be automatically exempt from garnishment.
More detail
The bill provides that such procedure to automatically exempt such funds shall not apply if the debt arises from a child support or spousal support obligation or if an exemption is otherwise prohibited by law.The bill further provides that a judgment debtor is not required to claim nor request a hearing for such automatic exemptions. Finally, the bill makes updates to the relevant provisions governing garnishment proceedings, notices to the garnishee and judgment debtor, and the form of a garnishment summons consistent with the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to HB 601.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0638)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 638 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 10Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Minor
- Feb 24Signed by PresidentMajor
- Feb 24Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Feb 24Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB301ER)Major
- Feb 24EnrolledMinor
- Feb 23Passed House (81-Y 15-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23Read third timeMinor
- Feb 20Read second timeMinor
- Feb 18Reported from Courts of Justice (18-Y 4-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 17Read first timeMinor
- Feb 17Placed on Calendar
- Feb 12Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
- Feb 11Courts of Justice Amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 11Read second timeMinor
- Feb 10Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 10Rules suspended
- Feb 9Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (8-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Senate committee offered
- Jan 26Rereferred from Commerce and Labor to Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Rereferred from Commerce and Labor. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105000DIntroduced