HB 1265 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Courthouses; certain civil arrests prohibited, definition, penalty.

Summary
Certain civil arrests prohibited in courthouses; penalty. Provides that a party who is required to attend any court of the Commonwealth, or such party's family or household member or person attending the court with such party to serve as a witness, shall be privileged from civil arrest, defined in the bill, while attending, going to, or coming from the court. The bill also prohibits a person with the lawful authority to perform civil arrests from entering a courthouse to conduct a civil arrest unless he complies with certain requirements, including presenting a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing the civil arrest to the appropriate courthouse officer or employee. Additionally, the bill requires that any judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing the civil arrest be reviewed by a designated judicial officer or attorney before a civil arrest pursuant to such warrant or order can be performed. Finally, the bill provides that any person who conducts a civil arrest, or facilitates or assists with the performance of, a civil arrest in violation of the provisions of the bill shall be punished with contempt of court.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 6, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
4
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote)
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jackie Glass
Jackie Glass
DDemocratic
VA
93