HB 245 VA

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Became Law

Jurisdiction of district courts in felony cases; specialty dockets; Behavioral Health Docket Act. Authorizes a general district court and a juvenile and domestic relations district court to retain jurisdiction over a felony offense for the purpose of allowing the accused to complete a specialty docket or behavioral health docket established pursuant to relevant law. Current law only explicitly provides such courts with the ability to certify felony charges to the circuit court or dismiss such charges after a preliminary hearing to determine if probable cause exists for such charges.

• Vivian E. Watts Democratic · primary

1. Jan 8, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102480D · lower
2. Jan 8, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · lower
3. Jan 20, 2026 Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal · lower
4. Jan 20, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB245) · lower
5. Jan 21, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) · lower
6. Jan 28, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice (18-Y 1-N) · lower
7. Jan 30, 2026 Read first time · lower
8. Feb 2, 2026 Read second time and engrossed · lower
9. Feb 3, 2026 Read third time and passed House (76-Y 19-N 0-A) · lower
10. Feb 4, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
11. Feb 4, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · upper
12. Feb 23, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N) · upper
13. Feb 24, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
14. Feb 24, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
15. Feb 24, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
16. Feb 25, 2026 Read third time · upper
17. Feb 25, 2026 Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
18. Mar 2, 2026 Enrolled · lower
19. Mar 2, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB245ER) · lower
20. Mar 2, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB245) · lower
21. Mar 2, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
22. Mar 2, 2026 Signed by President · upper
23. Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · lower
24. Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
25. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 580 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
26. Apr 13, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0580) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML