HB 2431 Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Attorneys; preliminary proof of education required of applicant for Virginia Bar examination.

Summary
Attorneys; preliminary proof of education required of applicant for Virginia Bar examination. Allows individuals who have received a master's or doctoral degree from an institution of higher education accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and studied law for three years, consisting of not less than 18 hours per week for at least 40 weeks per year, (i) in the office of an attorney practicing in the Commonwealth, whose full time is devoted to the practice of law, or (ii) with a retired circuit court judge who served the Commonwealth as a circuit court judge for a minimum of 10 years to sit for the Virginia Bar examination.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed Mar 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute → Chaptered · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill converts a House substitute version of HB 2431 into its final chaptered form for the 2025 Virginia legislative session. The substantive content regarding attorney bar examination requirements remains unchanged, with only formatting and structural adjustments made to reflect official enactment.
Scope change
None - the bill's scope and applicability remain the same as the original substitute version
TECHNICAL

Converted from House substitute format to official chaptered format with session information, chapter designation, and approval date

Added standard legislative formatting including chapter number, approval date, and proper bill numbering

REQUIREMENT

All substantive requirements for bar examination eligibility remain identical to the original substitute version

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2025

How they voted

39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Feb 17, 2025
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Mar 18, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 39 (Effective 07/01/25)
Feb 22, 2025
Senate · Passed
Signed by President
Feb 19, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
Signed by Speaker
Feb 19, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2431ER)
Feb 17, 2025
Senate · Passed
Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
Feb 14, 2025
Senate · Passed
Passed by for the day
Feb 12, 2025
Senate · Reported by committee
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
Feb 5, 2025
Senate · Referred to committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Feb 4, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
Passed House (99-Y 0-N)
Feb 4, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)
Jan 31, 2025
House of Delegates · Reported by committee
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (17-Y 0-N)
Jan 28, 2025
House of Delegates · Referred to committee
Assigned Courts sub: Civil
Jan 21, 2025
House of Delegates · Referred to committee
Referred from General Laws and referred to Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
Jan 8, 2025
House of Delegates · Referred to committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Katrina Callsen
Katrina Callsen
DDemocratic
VA
54