VirginiaHB13632026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Family abuse protective orders; conditions imposed upon issuance.

Sponsored By: Lindsey Dougherty (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Family abuse protective orders; other relief. Provides that in cases of family abuse where the court orders a permanent protective order, the court may require a respondent to pay or to contribute to the payment of rent or mortgage on a residence to which a petitioner was granted possession pursuant to such protective order and may further require that a respondent maintain suitable alternative housing and utility services to a residence to which a petitioner was granted possession.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.

Broader protective orders and custody help

The law lets courts issue broad protective orders to keep you and your family safe. Judges can forbid family abuse, crimes, and all contact or approach by the respondent. Courts can also order other safety steps, including temporary custody or visitation plans for a child. Courts can issue these orders even if the respondent is in jail when a preliminary order is in place.

Temporary child support in protective orders

When a protective order is issued, the court may order temporary child support if the respondent has a legal duty to support the children. This temporary support ends when a formal support order under § 20-108.1 is entered or when the protective order ends, whichever comes first.

Keep your car and phone access

The court can give you temporary use of a car you own alone or jointly. The order does not change who owns the car. The court can stop the other person from canceling insurance, registration, or vehicle taxes and can require them to keep them current. The court can give you sole use of a cell number or device and its password. It can bar the other person from cutting off service early or using devices to track or watch you.

Housing and utility protections in orders

The court can give you exclusive use of the home without changing who owns it. The court can require the other person to pay or help pay rent or the mortgage. It can stop the other person from shutting off needed utilities and order service restored and kept on. The court can also require the other person to provide suitable alternative housing and pay utility connection deposits there.

Faster enforcement, privacy, and victim help

The court must enter protective‑order details into the Virginia Criminal Information Network by the end of the business day. Police must verify the entry, serve the order quickly, record the service time, and update changes. Breaking a protective order counts as contempt of court. Law enforcement, courts, and clerks must keep a protected person’s home, phone, and workplace confidential, unless the law requires sharing, police need it, or a court allows it for good cause. When an order is issued, the clerk must give the petitioner state victim‑help materials.

Order length, extensions, and changes

A protective order can last up to 2 years, or up to 4 years if there was a prior protective order within 10 years. Before it expires, the petitioner can ask in writing to extend it; the court must set a hearing within 15 days and may issue a temporary order until then. Either party can ask to change or end an order, and these requests get priority. Appeals of final protective orders from circuit court get expedited review. Respondents must tell the court in writing within 7 days if they move while the order is in effect; violations can be punished as contempt.

Protection for pets in protective orders

If you meet the legal definition of the animal’s owner, the court can give you possession of your companion animal in a protective order.

Virginia honors out-of-state protective orders

Virginia courts enforce protective orders from other states, territories, D.C., tribal, or federal courts if the issuing court gave reasonable notice and a chance to be heard. You can file an attested copy in a juvenile and domestic relations court, and the clerk sends it to police for state database entry. Officers may rely on a copy or on your statement that the order is still active.

Free filing but possible legal fees

You do not pay a fee to file or serve a protective‑order petition or order. The court can still order either party to pay costs or attorney fees in the case, even without a full hearing.

Treatment rules and help for juveniles

The court can order the respondent to attend treatment, counseling, or other programs. If the respondent is a juvenile, the court can order the local social services agency to provide services to the child and family.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lindsey Dougherty

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 300 • No: 21

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Yes: 92 • No: 6

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate with amendment

Yes: 38 • No: 2

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment

Yes: 12 • No: 3

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 87 • No: 10

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/9/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0468)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 468 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1363ER)

    3/30/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Senate amendment agreed to by House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  10. Passed Senate with amendment (38-Y 2-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  11. Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  12. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/10/2026Senate
  13. Read third time

    3/10/2026Senate
  14. Passed by for the day

    3/9/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/6/2026Senate
  18. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (12-Y 3-N)

    3/4/2026Senate
  19. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/18/2026Senate
  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  21. Read third time and passed House (87-Y 10-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  22. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/17/2026House
  23. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House
  24. committee substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026House
  25. Read second time

    2/16/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation