Virginia House Bill 185

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Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11)
Status: Passed on April 8 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-08 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0366)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]

Orders closing a proceeding; petitions for review. Provides that when a circuit court acts on or issues an order pertaining to the closure of a proceeding, such order is eligible for immediate appellate review with the Supreme Court of Virginia. The bill further provides that any person aggrieved by such an order may, within 15 days of the entry of such an order, file a petition for review with the Supreme Court of Virginia. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.

Orders closing a proceeding; petitions for review.

Del. Leslie Chambers Mehta [D]	Del. Jessica Anderson [D]	Del. Nadarius Clark [D]	Del. Nicole Cole [D]
Del. Michael Feggans [D]	Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra [D]	Del. Amy Laufer [D]	Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling [D]
Del. Marty Martinez [D]	Del. John Chilton McAuliff [D]	Del. Kimberly Pope Adams [D]

2026-03-12 - House - Senate amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 97 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-03-11 - Senate - Passed Senate with amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-10 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 37 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2026-03-09 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Y: 14 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-04 - Senate - Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N) (Y: 14 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-03 - House - Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 98 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-01-28 - House - Reported from Courts of Justice (19-Y 0-N) (Y: 19 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2026-01-21 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N) (Y: 9 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-08		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0366)
2026-04-08		Approved by Governor-Chapter 366 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-31		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31	House	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31	House	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31	House	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB185)
2026-03-30	Senate	Signed by President
2026-03-30	House	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB185ER)
2026-03-30	House	Enrolled
2026-03-12	House	Senate amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-11	Senate	Passed Senate with amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-11	Senate	Engrossed by Senate as amended
2026-03-11	Senate	Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
2026-03-11	Senate	Read third time
2026-03-10	Senate	Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-03-10	Senate	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-10	Senate	Rules suspended
2026-03-09	Senate	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-03-04	Senate	Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)
2026-02-04	Senate	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-04	Senate	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-03	House	Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-03	House	Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
2026-02-02	House	Read second time and engrossed
2026-01-30	House	Read first time
2026-01-28	House	Reported from Courts of Justice (19-Y 0-N)
2026-01-21	House	Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
2026-01-20	House	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB185)
2026-01-19	House	Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
2026-01-07	House	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-07	House	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103517D

Type	Source
Summary	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB185
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB185/text/HB185
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB185/text/HB185ER
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB185/text/CHAP0366
Amendment	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB185/text/HB185AS1
Amendment	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB185/text/HB185EDOC
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091790.PDF
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214783.PDF
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/H08002V2610093
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/H08V2610731
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/2619955
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/S13V2571
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/S5V2824
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/SV1208
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/SV1225
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB185/20261/26111111