govt.fyi
Virginia General Assembly · HB 245 · Acts of Assembly Chapter 580

Jurisdiction of district courts in felony cases; specialty dockets, Behavioral Health Docket Act.

Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.

Officially: “An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-123.1, 16.1-241, 19.2-183, and 19.2-186 of the Code of Virginia, relating to jurisdiction of district courts in felony cases; specialty dockets; Behavioral Health Docket Act. Read the full text

2026 session

What it does

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 ch
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.

Where it is

Introduced · Jan 8, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter 580 (latest official status)
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.

The numbers

1
sponsor on the bill

Sponsors

Vivian E. Watts

Recorded votes

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-02-25 · P · Y 40
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-02-24 · P · Y 39, X 1
Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)Senate · 2026-02-23 · P · Y 14, X 1
Read third time and passed House (76-Y 19-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-03 · P · Y 76, N 19, X 5
Reported from Courts of Justice (18-Y 1-N)House of Delegates · 2026-01-28 · P · Y 18, X 3, N 1
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)House of Delegates · 2026-01-21 · P · Y 10
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Virginia legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter 580.