# Virginia HB443: Judicial district and circuit courts; maximum number of judges.

Virginia HB443, Judicial district and circuit courts; maximum number of judges., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Patrick A. Hope (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0615)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB443-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB443
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Judicial district and circuit courts; maximum number of judges.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0615)
- Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 13 (392 yes, 118 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## 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 overview: provisions PRIA read

- More judges for Virginia appeals court hearings: benefit, low. Beginning September 1, 2026, the law sets Virginia’s Court of Appeals at 21 judges, up from 17. The court can start a larger-group review, or a party can request one, with approval from a majority of the court. These hearings require at least 13 judges, including the original three and at least 10…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 22 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 91 | 5 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 1 | 96 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (49)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0615) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor - Chapter 615 (effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB443ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 5-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-14: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-11: House Conferees: Hope, Maldonado, Ballard (House)
- 2026-03-11: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-11: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-11: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate Conferees: Perry, Deeds, Stuart (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 96-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Committee substitute printed 26109166D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443) (House)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26106991D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-04: Incorporates HB194 (McQuinn) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Incorporates HB46 (Reid) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB443) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102580D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221586.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221585.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214430.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214429.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211705.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211702.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211701.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191991.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191990.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127338.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127337.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108248.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108252.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108247.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108251.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084463.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084462.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221586.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221585.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214430.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214429.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211705.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211702.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211701.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191991.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191990.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127338.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127337.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108248.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108252.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108247.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108251.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084463.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084462.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB443-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).