VirginiaHB13822026 Regular SessionHouse

Members of U.S. Armed Forces, etc.; domicile & residential requirements for annulment, etc.

Sponsored By: Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Domicile and residential requirements for annulment, affirmance, or divorce; members of the Armed Forces of the United States and civilian employees of the United States; return from station. Provides that, for the purposes of domicile requirements for annulment, affirmance, or divorce, any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or any civilian employee of the United States, including any foreign service officer, who (i) at the time the suit is filed, or immediately preceding such suit, has returned to the Commonwealth following being stationed in any territory or foreign country and (ii) resided or lived in in the Commonwealth for the six-month period immediately preceding his being stationed in such territory or country shall be deemed to have been domiciled in and to have been a bona fide resident of the Commonwealth during the six months preceding the filing of a suit for annulment or divorce.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier Virginia residency for military and federal workers

A service member who lived or was stationed in Virginia for the six months before filing is presumed domiciled and a bona fide resident. Time on a ship home-ported in Virginia counts, as does time at a federal air, naval, or military base in Virginia where the U.S. has exclusive jurisdiction. If you are military or a U.S. civilian employee who lived in Virginia for six months before going overseas, you are treated as domiciled in Virginia for the six months before you file, whether you are still abroad or have returned.

Separated spouses can claim own domicile

After separation, either spouse may establish a separate Virginia domicile. This is allowed even if the separation would justify a divorce or annulment. It can help meet Virginia’s residency rules when filing.

Six-month Virginia residency to divorce or annul

To file for annulment or divorce in Virginia, one spouse must be domiciled in Virginia when you file and for the six months right before filing. To ask the court to affirm a marriage, one party must be domiciled in Virginia and be an actual bona fide resident at the time of filing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 280 • No: 2

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Yes: 97 • No: 2

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/9/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0469)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 469 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1382)

    3/31/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1382ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate amendment agreed to by House (97-Y 2-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  11. Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  12. Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/10/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/10/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/9/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/9/2026Senate
  18. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (14-Y 0-N)

    3/5/2026Senate
  19. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/18/2026Senate
  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  21. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  22. Read second time and engrossed

    2/16/2026House
  23. Read first time

    2/13/2026House
  24. Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)

    2/11/2026House
  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

    2/9/2026House

Bill Text

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