HB 1020 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity; accrual.

Summary

Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity; accrual. Adds to the accrual provisions for personal injury actions resulting from sexual abuse during the infancy or incapacity of a person that accrual occurs when corroborative evidence, as defined in the bill, is discovered or by the exercise of due diligence reasonably should have been discovered.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

This document is the final, enacted version of HB 1020, which updates Virginia's statute of limitations for personal injury cases. The bill establishes specific rules for when a lawsuit can be filed for sexual abuse occurring during infancy or incapacity, allowing victims to sue after they reach adulthood or discover corroborating evidence. It also clarifies rules for asbestos, latent injuries, and medical device implantation cases.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on amending § 8.01-249 of the Code of Virginia to define accrual dates for various personal injury actions, with no change to the general applicability of the law.

TECHNICAL

The text was converted from a draft 'Enrolled' format to the official 'Chaptered' format, adding the chapter number (251), the approval date (April 6, 2026), and removing draft headers.

The layout was adjusted from a single-column draft view to a multi-column, justified print format typical of official state laws.

TIMELINE

A new provision was added stating that actions brought against an entity based on corroborative evidence must only be for causes of action occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 20, 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

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 251 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1020ER)

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors