HB 443 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Judicial district and circuit courts; maximum number of judges.

Summary

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.

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 12, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Criminal Subcommittee Substitute → Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transferred from the House to the Senate, changing the committee responsible for review. The Senate version significantly expanded the bill's scope by adding a requirement for the Judicial Council to study the organization and boundaries of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits. It also added a specific effective date for changes to judge numbers in those two circuits.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from merely adjusting judge numbers to including a mandatory study of court boundaries and organization for specific judicial circuits.

REQUIREMENT

The bill title and description were updated to include a new requirement for the Judicial Council to study the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits.

A new section mandates the Judicial Council to conduct a study on the organization and boundaries of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits, including reviewing caseload data and travel times.

TIMELINE

A specific deadline was added for the Judicial Council to complete its study meetings by November 30, 2026.

An effective date of July 1, 2027, was established for changes to the number of judges in the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits.

TECHNICAL

The original House committee attribution and bill number were replaced with Senate committee attribution and a new bill number.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Mar 3, 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

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 615 (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 (HB443ER)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Senate requested conference committee

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-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 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors