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HB443Introduced in the House of Delegates

Judicial district and circuit courts; maximum number of judges.

Passed

Introduced by Patrick Hope, District 1

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit; maximum number of judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia; hearing en banc; study to examine organization and boundaries of certain judicial circuits; report. Increases from 17 to 21 the maximum number of authorized judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. The bill removes provisions that require the Court of Appeals to sit en banc in certain instances, making the decision of whether to sit en banc entirely discretionary. The bill requires the Court of Appeals to sit en banc with no fewer than 13 judges, three of whom shall be the three judges to whom the case was originally assigned and the remaining 10 of whom shall be assigned pursuant to a randomized rotational schedule in accordance with the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Under the bill, such provisions relating to the Court of Appeals shall become effective on September 1, 2026.The bill also increases by one the maximum number of authorized general district court judges in the Twelfth and Twenty-sixth Judicial Districts. The bill also increases by one the maximum number of authorized juvenile and domestic relations district court judges in the Twelfth and Fifteenth Judicial Districts. The bill further increases by one the maximum number of authorized circuit court judges in the Twentieth and Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuits. Under the bill, the provisions relating to increasing the number of judges in the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits shall become effective on July 1, 2027.Finally, the bill directs the Judicial Council of Virginia to study the organization and boundaries of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits and to submit an executive summary and a report of its findings and any recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2026.As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts and the Judicial Council of Virginia. This bill incorporates HB 46 and HB 194.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0615)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · March 14, 2026

22

Yes

17

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102580D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443)

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)

  6. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  7. Committee substitute printed 26106991D-H1

  8. Incorporates HB46 (Reid)

  9. Incorporates HB194 (McQuinn)

  10. Read first time

  11. Read second time

  12. committee substitute agreed to

  13. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  14. Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  16. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  17. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N)

  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443)

  19. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

  20. Rules suspended

  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  23. Committee substitute printed 26109166D-S1

  24. Read third time

  25. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  26. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  27. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 96-N 0-A)

  29. Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  30. Senate requested conference committee

  31. Conferees appointed by Senate

  32. Senate Conferees: Perry, Deeds, Stuart

  33. House acceded to request

  34. Conferees appointed by House

  35. House Conferees: Hope, Maldonado, Ballard

  36. Conference Report released

  37. Conference Report released

  38. Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 5-N 0-A)

  39. Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)

  40. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443)

  41. Enrolled

  42. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB443ER)

  43. Signed by President

  44. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443)

  45. Signed by Speaker

  46. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  47. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  48. Approved by Governor - Chapter 615 (effective - see bill)

  49. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0615)

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