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VA SB301

Bill

Status

Enrolled

2/24/2026

Primary Sponsor

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2026 Regular Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Establishes a minimum protected account balance of $1,000 that financial institutions must automatically exempt from garnishment across all of a judgment debtor's accounts
  • Requires financial institutions to conduct account reviews upon receiving garnishment summons to identify and protect federal and state benefit payments deposited within the preceding two months
  • Protects specific benefit payments from garnishment including Social Security, SSI, veterans' benefits, federal civil service retirement, Railroad Retirement, unemployment compensation, public assistance, workers' compensation, and child support
  • Mandates the $1,000 minimum protected balance be adjusted every three years starting April 1, 2027, based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), rounded to the nearest $25
  • Requires updated garnishment notices to inform judgment debtors that financial institutions must automatically apply these exemptions, while preserving the debtor's right to claim additional exemptions

Legislative Description

Exemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance, certain benefit payments.

Last Action

Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

3/10/2026

Committee Referrals

Courts of Justice2/17/2026
Commerce and Labor1/13/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available