SB 713 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Sheriffs; courthouse and courtroom security, concurrent jurisdiction of certain officers, etc.

Summary
Sheriffs; courthouse and courtroom security; physical location of courthouse or courtroom. Clarifies that, where a courtroom of a locality is located within the courthouse of a different county, city, or town, the sheriff, any deputy sheriff, or any law-enforcement officer of such locality shall have (i) the same police powers within and on the surrounding property of the courthouse as in his own jurisdiction and (ii) concurrent jurisdiction while present within or on the surrounding property of such courthouse, or while traveling to and returning from such courthouse, and engaged in the performance of his official duties to enforce certain laws of the Commonwealth.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 10, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for the 2026 session, replacing the previous draft status. The substantive policy content regarding sheriff duties and courtroom security jurisdiction remains unchanged from the substitute version, with only minor formatting adjustments to the section headers.
TIMELINE

The bill status changed from a draft substitute offered for consideration to an enrolled act, indicating it has been approved and is now law.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes were made to the section headers, adding spacing between the section number and title.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 30, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 39
Jan 30, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
17 Yea 2
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
12
Committee
7
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 830 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB713ER)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26100107D
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Creigh Deeds
Creigh Deeds
DDemocratic
VA
11