Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 934 — Small claims court; representation of certain entities.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0058)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 08, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Small claims court; representation of certainentities. Adds limited liability companies and other legal orcommercial entities to those parties that may have representationby an owner, a general partner, an officer, a member, or an employeeof such company or entity in small claims court. This bill is a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

22 added · 23 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill HB 934 clarify how small claims court can handle representation for parties involved in cases. The bill allows corporate entities and partnerships to be represented by specific individuals like owners or officers without needing a lawyer, while also allowing individuals who cannot represent themselves to have a friend or relative step in. Additionally, the changes confirm that defendants can remove their case to a higher court before a judge makes a decision. These updates aim to make it easier for individuals and businesses to navigate small claims courts, promoting fairness and accessibility in the legal process.

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Previous
Latest
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E N An representation of certain entities..4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to small claims court;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER 58 An Act to amend and reenact § 16.1-122.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to small claims court;
R O [H 934] L Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
representation of certain entities.
L 1.
[H 934] Approved March 8, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
E A.
§ 16.1-122.4.
Representation and removal;
rights of parties.
A.
H 2.
2.
A plaintiff or defendant who, in the judge's opinion, is unable to understand or particip9te on his with the facts of the case and is not an attorney.friend or relative if the representative is f4miliar B.
A plaintiff or defendant who, in the judge's opinion, is unable to understand or participate on his own behalf in the hearing may be represented by a friend or relative if the representative is familiar with the facts of the case and is not an attorney.
B.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0058)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 58 (effective 7/1/24)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB934ER)

  8. Enrolled

  9. Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

  10. Read third time

  11. Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

  12. Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)

  13. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  14. Constitutional reading dispensed

  15. VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N)

  16. Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)

  17. Read second time and engrossed

  18. Read first time

  19. Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)

  20. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

  21. Assigned Courts sub: Civil

  22. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  23. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102431D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Not Voting
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 38002
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Not Voting
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Not Voting
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N)

Passed 98 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 98001
Total 98001
% of votes cast 99%0%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Higgins, Geary — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Not Voting
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21001
Total 21001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Not Voting
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7002
Total 7002
% of votes cast 78%0%0%22%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Atoosa R. Reaser — Not Voting
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Not Voting
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 934 do?
Small claims court; representation of certainentities. Adds limited liability companies and other legal orcommercial entities to those parties that may have representationby an owner, a general partner, an officer, a member, or an employeeof such company or entity in small claims court. This bill is a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.
Who sponsors HB 934?
HB 934 is sponsored by Destiny LeVere Bolling.
What is the current status of HB 934?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 934?
Track HB 934 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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