Chap. 351.—An ACT to protect sub-contractors, supply men and laborers.
Approved February 17, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That no
assignment or transfer of any debt, or any part thereof, due or to
become due to a general contractor by the owner for the construc-
tion, erection or repairing of any building, structure, or railroad for
such owner, shall be valid or enforceable in any court of law or
equity by any legal process, or in any other manner, by the assignee
of any such debt, unless and until the claims of all sub-contractors,
supply men and laborers against such general contractor for labor
performed and materials furnished in and about the construction,
erection and repairing of such building, structure or railroad shall
have been satisfied; provided that if such sub-contractors, supply
men and laborers shall give their assent in writing to such assign-
ment, it shall be thereby made valid as to them, but the payment or
appropriation of such assignment by the owner without such assent
in writing shall not protect such owner from the demands of such
sub-contractors, supply men and laborers to the extent of such
assignment.

2. No debt or demand, or any part thereof, due or to become due
by the owner of any building, structure or railroad to a general con-
tractor for the construction, erection or repairing of such building,
structure or railroad, shall be subject to the payment of any debt or
the lien of any judgment, writ of fieri facias or any garnishee pro-
ceeding obtained or sued out upon any debt due such general con-
tractor which shall have been contracted in any other manner or for
any other purpose than in the construction, erection or repairing of
such building, structure or railroad for such owner unless and until
the claims due by such general contractor to all sub-contractors,
supply men and labourers for materials furnished and labor per-
formed in and about the construction, erection or repairing of such
building, structure or railroad shall have been paid.

3. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby
repealed.

4. This act shall be in force from its passage.