SB229 • 2026

Civil actions filed on behalf of multiple persons; class actions.

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 17.1-405 and 59.1-204 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 8.01 a chapter numbered 5.2, consisting of sections numbered 8.01-267.10 through 8.01-267.16, relating to civil actions filed on behalf of multiple persons; class actions; violations of Virginia Consumer Protection Act; award of damages.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Surovell
Last action: 2026-05-19
Official status: Governor's Veto
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the Governor, so it does not currently affect any laws or court procedures in Virginia.

Class Action Lawsuits for Multiple People

This act proposes changes to Virginia's laws regarding class action lawsuits and the award of damages in cases involving violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

What This Bill Does

Allows one or more people to represent a group in court if it is impractical for all members to join as plaintiffs.
Requires that there be common questions of law or fact, typical claims by representatives, and fair representation of the whole group.
Sets rules on how courts can certify a class action and what orders they may issue during the case.
Explains how settlements or dismissals in a class action lawsuit should be handled.
Applies existing damage award procedures from individual cases to class actions under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to file lawsuits on behalf of many others
Courts that will hear these types of cases

Terms To Know

Class action lawsuit: A type of lawsuit where one or more people represent a group with similar claims.
Certification: The process by which a court decides if a case can be treated as a class action.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.
It would have taken effect on January 1, 2027, but that date is now uncertain due to the veto.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB229G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (SB229) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110207D) be accepted.

(SB229) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110207D) be accepted.

SB229S2

2026-04-13 • Governor

Governor Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26110207D SENATE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26110207D SENATE BILL NO.
229 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Governor on April 11, 2026) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Surovell) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 17.1-405 and 59.1-204 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 8.01 a chapter numbered 5.2, consisting of sections numbered 8.01-267.10 through 8.01-267.16 , relating to civil actions filed on behalf of multiple persons; class actions; violations of Virginia Consumer Protection Act; award of damages.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
That §§ 17.1-405 and 59.1-204 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 8.01 a chapter numbered 5.2, consisting of sections numbered 8.01-267.10 through 8.01-267.16 , as follows: CHAPTER 5.2.

Bill History

2026-05-19 Senate
Governor's Veto Received by Senate
2026-05-19 Governor
Vetoed by Governor
2026-04-22 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-04-22 Senate
Communicated to Governor
2026-04-22 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
2026-04-22 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-04-11 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
2026-03-10 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-02-24 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-02-24 Senate
Signed by President
2026-02-24 Senate
Enrolled
2026-02-24 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB229ER)
2026-02-24 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB229)
2026-02-23 House
Read third time
2026-02-23 House
Passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)
2026-02-20 House
Read second time
2026-02-18 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-17 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-17 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-17 House
Read first time
2026-02-11 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-02-10 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-10 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
2026-02-10 Courts of Justice
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-02-10 Senate
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-09 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-09 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-01-23 Courts of Justice
Committee substitute printed 26105720D-S1
2026-01-21 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-01-21 Senate
Courts of Justice Substitute
2026-01-11 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-11 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104685D
2026-01-11 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
2026-01-11 Senate
Introduced bill reprinted 26104685D

Official Summary Text

Civil actions filed on behalf of multiple persons; class actions; violations of Virginia Consumer Protection Act; award of damages.
Provides that one or more members of a class may, as representative parties on behalf of all members, bring a civil action or may be proceeded against in a civil action, provided that (i) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, (ii) there are questions of law or fact common to the class, (iii) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and (iv) the representative parties shall fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. The bill further sets out the procedure to certify a class action, the duties of counsel appointed in a class action, the various orders a court may issue during the course of a class action, and the process by which a settlement, voluntary dismissal, or compromise may occur. The bill also applies the procedure by which an individual may be awarded damages in an action for a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to a class action. Finally, the bill permits the Court of Appeals to permit an appeal to be taken from an order certifying a class in accordance with the provisions of the bill or any other order that is not a final order of the circuit court in a class action. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 449.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

(SB229)
GOVERNOR'S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 229, which would create a new class action process in Virginia.
I support the General Assembly's goal of providing a class action mechanism that can be used by plaintiffs in Virginia courts. I offered amendments to ensure that when Virginia adopts its first-ever class action procedure, we do so in a tailored and judicious way — building on longstanding federal precedent while providing regional circuit courts an opportunity to develop expertise.
The General Assembly did not accept these amendments.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.