A bill submitted by State Del. Bill Wiley seeks to make changes to enforcement procedures for vehicle liens and clarify methods for verifying a vehicle’s value before sale, according to the Virginia State House.
Formally designated as HB1288, the measure was introduced Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, and described as: “Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value.”
What follows is our summary based on the bill text, with interpretation offered for clarity.
The legislation would increase the maximum vehicle value from $12,500 to $17,000 for which a bailee may enforce a lien and auction the vehicle publicly without a court order, and also adjusts the corresponding threshold for court approval. The measure defines “independent appraisal” and permits a bailee to use such an appraisal to determine a vehicle’s value for lien enforcement. Procedures involving Department of Motor Vehicles record searches, notification to owners and lienholders, surplus distributions, title creation, and protections for active-duty military personnel would remain unchanged.
Del. Bill Wiley (Republican-32nd District) is the sole sponsor of the bill.
Wiley has introduced three additional bills since the session began.
He earned a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University in 1993.
The Republican legislator was elected to the Virginia House in 2024, representing the 32nd House district and succeeding David Reid.
In Virginia, the legislative process begins when either chamber introduces a bill. Bills are assigned to committees for review and possible amendments. If passed in committee, legislation advances to the floor for debate and voting in both chambers. A bill approved by both chambers goes to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow it to become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly holds regular sessions each year beginning the second Monday in January. Hundreds of bills are proposed each session, though only a fraction are approved.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bill Wiley | HB1288 | 01/14/2026 | Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value. |
| 2026 | Bill Wiley, Shelly A. Simonds, and Amy J. Laufer | HB1289 | 01/14/2026 | Geologists; added to definition of “professional services,” continuing education. |
| 2026 | Bill Wiley | HB1290 | 01/14/2026 | Commercial motor vehicle; expands definition. |
| 2026 | Bill Wiley | HB1291 | 01/14/2026 | Geologists; regulations, exemptions. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley, Delores Oates, Ian T. Lovejoy, and Wren M. Williams | HB1552 | 01/08/2025 | Critical access hospitals; swing beds. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley, David Owen, and Ian T. Lovejoy | HB1567 | 01/08/2025 | Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; operational plan submission. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB1568 | 01/08/2025 | Law-enforcement jurisdiction; Frederick County Sheriff’s Dept. jurisdiction in/upon certain bldgs. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB1835 | 01/08/2025 | Geologists; regulation, licensure, penalty. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB1836 | 01/08/2025 | Driver training schools; definitions, operation and licensure. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley | HB2502 | 01/08/2025 | FOIA; exclusion of certain information held by Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. |
| 2025 | Bill Wiley, Bill Wiley, Ian T. Lovejoy, Ian T. Lovejoy, W. Chad Green, and W. Chad Green | HB2503 | 01/08/2025 | Virginia coordinate systems; updates several references in Code. |
