model confidence 80%
Expands the list of automatically protected benefit payments in garnishment notices and procedures to include child support payments, and requires financial institutions to automatically exempt recent child support deposits from garnishment (except possibly in support-related debts), so more funds (
Child support payments (§ 20-108.1, Code of Virginia).
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
No change to rights of the paying or noncustodial parent model confidence 60%
Updates garnishment exemption notices to reference spousal support alongside child support in contexts of when federal benefits may not be exempt and when earnings withholding limits differ, with no substantive change to alimony rules themselves.
If the debt at issue arises from a child support or spousal support obligation, the financial institution may be prohibited by law from withholding these benefit payments from garnishment.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Stage: Law · step 6 of 6
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill adds a $1,000 minimum protected account balance and automatic exemptions for certain benefit payments (including child support) from garnishment, updates related notices and procedures, and makes technical changes to garnishment forms. This affects child support by expanding protections for support payments in garnishment actions. Spousal support (alimony) is mentioned only in passing in updated notices with no change to its treatment. No provisions address firearms, transgender issues, abortion, or immigration enforcement.
| Date | Chamber | Motion | Yea-Nay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-28 | H | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N) | 9-1 | Passed |
| 2026-02-04 | H | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N) | 21-1 | Passed |
| 2026-02-10 | H | Read third time and passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A) | 92-6 | Passed |
| 2026-02-18 | S | Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N) | 9-5 | Passed |
| 2026-02-20 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) | 40-0 | Passed |
| 2026-02-23 | S | Passed Senate (20-Y 18-N 0-A) | 20-18 | Passed |
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0637) | |
| 2026-04-13 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 637 (effective 7/1/2026) | |
| 2026-03-10 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 | |
| 2026-03-10 | H | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 |
| 2026-02-25 | S | Signed by President |
| 2026-02-25 | H | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-02-25 | H | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB601ER) |
| 2026-02-25 | H | Enrolled |
| 2026-02-23 | S | Passed Senate (20-Y 18-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-23 | S | Read third time |
| 2026-02-20 | S | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-20 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-20 | S | Rules suspended |
| 2026-02-18 | S | Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N) |
| 2026-02-11 | S | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 2026-02-11 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-10 | H | Read third time and passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-09 | H | Engrossed by House as amended |
| 2026-02-09 | H | committee amendments agreed to |
| 2026-02-09 | H | Read second time |
| 2026-02-06 | H | Read first time |
| 2026-02-04 | H | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N) |
| 2026-01-28 | H | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N) |
| 2026-01-28 | H | House subcommittee offered |
| 2026-01-26 | H | Assigned HCJ sub: Civil |
| 2026-01-13 | H | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 2026-01-13 | H | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104988D |