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 SB 301.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0637)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 637 (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 25Signed by PresidentMajor
- Feb 25Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Feb 25Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB601ER)Major
- Feb 25EnrolledMinor
- Feb 23Passed Senate (20-Y 18-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Read third timeMinor
- Feb 20Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 20Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 20Rules suspended
- Feb 18Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 11Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 10Read third time and passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Engrossed by House as amended
- Feb 9committee amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 9Read second timeMinor
- Feb 6Read first timeMinor
- Feb 4Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28House subcommittee offered
- Jan 26Assigned HCJ sub: CivilMinor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104988DIntroduced