HB 1485 Virginia House of Delegates · 2027 Regular Session

Court of Appeals of Virginia; maximum number of judges, summary disposition of certain civil cases.

Summary
Maximum number of judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia; hearings en banc; summary disposition of certain civil cases. Increases from 17 to 21 the maximum number of authorized judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. The bill provides that the Supreme Court of Virginia shall prescribe by rule the number of judges needed for the Court of Appeals to sit en banc, and that such number shall not be fewer than 13 judges. Additionally, the bill permits the Court of Appeals to summarily affirm the decision below in certain civil cases.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Jul 21, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House of Delegates. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-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 (84-Y 14-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendment agreed to
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26105533D
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors