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VA SB158

VA SB158
Judicial district and circuit courts; maximum number of judges.


summary

Introduced
01/07/2026
In Committee
03/02/2026
Crossed Over
03/11/2026
Passed
04/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit; study to examine organization and boundaries of certain judicial districts; report. 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 have a delayed effective date of 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 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 SB 780.

AI Summary

This bill increases the maximum number of judges in several judicial districts and circuits across Virginia. Specifically, it adds one judge to the general district courts in the Twelfth and Twenty-sixth Judicial Districts, and one judge to the juvenile and domestic relations district courts in the Twelfth and Fifteenth Judicial Districts. Additionally, it adds one judge to the circuit courts in the Twentieth and Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuits. However, the increases for the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits will not take effect until July 1, 2027. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Judicial Council of Virginia, an administrative body overseeing the state's courts, conduct a comprehensive study by November 30, 2026, to examine the organization and boundaries of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits, considering factors like caseloads, population, court management, geography, and potential boundary adjustments, and then report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Justice

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0880) (on 04/13/2026)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/CHAP0880
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB158) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214837.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158ER
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB158) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213262.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158S2
Conference Report SB158 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158AC
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158H1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB158) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171568.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158S1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158SC1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB158) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095853.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB158/text/SB158
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