All Roll Calls
Yes: 219 • No: 0
Sponsored By: Marcus B. Simon (Democratic)
Became Law
Exemptions from garnishment; exemptions in bankruptcy proceedings; disposable earnings. Provides that the exemption provided for a debtor's disposable earnings, defined by current law, that are subject to garnishment also applies to disposable earnings for the purposes of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Different limits apply when a garnishment enforces a support order. Up to 60% of disposable earnings can be taken, or 50% if you support another spouse or dependent child. If you are more than 12 weeks behind, those caps rise to 65% and 55%. State and federal tax debts and Chapter XIII bankruptcy orders are also not limited by the general 25%/40× cap.
The law limits how much of your pay can be taken each workweek. The most that can be garnished is the lesser of 25% of your disposable earnings, or the amount above 40 times the higher of the federal or Virginia minimum hourly wage in effect when you are paid. For non‑weekly pay periods, the State Labor Commissioner sets an equivalent rule. Some debts, like child support and taxes, follow different limits under other rules.
The same wage exemptions in this law also protect your disposable earnings during bankruptcy. These protections apply unless another rule in this section says otherwise.
Courts and state agencies cannot make or enforce orders that break these garnishment limits. If you qualify for an exemption, it is granted without extra steps. Any assignment, sale, or pledge of the exempt part of your wages is void and cannot be enforced.
Your employer cannot fire you just because your pay was garnished for one debt. This protects your job when you face a single garnishment.
A bank that holds your deposited earnings does not have to decide what share can be garnished. Others must figure out the garnishable amount.
Marcus B. Simon
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 219 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Passed Senate Block Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 37 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Reported from Courts of Justice
Yes: 15 • No: 0
House vote • 2/3/2026
Read third time and passed House Block Vote
Yes: 98 • No: 0
House vote • 1/28/2026
Reported from Courts of Justice
Yes: 19 • No: 0
House vote • 1/21/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0143)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 143 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB445ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read second time and engrossed
Read first time
Reported from Courts of Justice (19-Y 0-N)
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101046D
Chaptered
4/6/2026
Enrolled
3/5/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
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