Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1485: Court of Appeals of Virginia; maximum number of judges, summary disposition of certain civil cases.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1485 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 23, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Court of Appeals of Virginia; maximum number of judges, summary disposition of certain civil cases. Primary sponsor: Patrick Hope (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (March 9, 2026): Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Maximum number of judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia; hearings en banc; summary disposition of certain civil cases. Increases from 17 to 21 the maximum number of authorized judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. The bill provides that the Supreme Court of Virginia shall prescribe by rule the number of judges needed for the Court of Appeals to sit en banc, and that such number shall not be fewer than 13 judges. Additionally, the bill permits the Court of Appeals to summarily affirm the decision below in certain civil cases.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Virgil Thornton | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 86 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1485)
- Committee substitute printed 26108371D-S1
- Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Read third time and passed House (84-Y 14-N 0-A)
- Engrossed by House as amended
- committee amendment agreed to
- Read second time
- Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
- Read first time
Showing 12 most recent of 18 actions. Full history