HB 1426 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Judgments; limitations on enforcement, docketing of gen. district court judgments in circuit court.

Summary
Limitations on enforcement of judgments; docketing of general district court judgments in the circuit court. Provides that, for judgments entered in the general district court on or after July 1, 2026, where enforcement of such judgments is sought by a debt buyer, the docketing of an abstract of such judgment in the circuit court shall not effect the 10-year limitation period to enforce such judgment. Under current law, such docketing allows a general district court judgment to be treated as a judgment entered by the circuit court and may be extended in the same manner as a judgment entered by the circuit court.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 3 edits · Apr 13, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for signature, retaining the core policy of shortening the enforcement period for general district court judgments from 20 years to 10 years starting July 1, 2026. A new exception was added to allow debt buyers to enforce judgments under the new 10-year limit even if they do not docket the judgment in circuit court, whereas previously only the original plaintiff could docket a judgment to extend its life.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on amending Code of Virginia sections regarding judgment enforcement limits, but the applicability of the new 10-year rule was expanded to include debt buyers who purchase judgments.
ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific provision allowing debt buyers to enforce judgments under the new 10-year limitation period without needing to docket the judgment in circuit court, whereas previously only the original plaintiff could use docketing to extend the enforcement period.

TIMELINE

The bill moved from 'Introduced' status to 'Enrolled' status, indicating it has passed all legislative stages and is ready for the Governor's signature.

TECHNICAL

The text was reformatted from a standard legislative draft layout to the official enrolled format used for final passage.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 10, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
12
Committee
6
Amendments
3
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 848 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1426ER)
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments agreed to by House (67-Y 30-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (16-Y 6-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 2-N)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26104787D
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Marcus Simon
Marcus Simon
DDemocratic
VA
13