HB73Introduced in the House of Delegates
Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody.
Introduced by Joshua Cole, District 28
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody; custodians. Allows the custodian of a child to file a petition for relief of the care and custody of such child in a juvenile and domestic relations district court. Current law only authorizes the parent or parents of a child to file such petition for relief of care and custody. The bill also requires the petitioning parent or custodian to cooperate with any services provided by a local department of social services during the initial investigation by such local department of social services after such petition for relief of care and custody has been filed. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Commission on Youth and is identical to SB 206.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0058)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) · February 23, 2026
38
Yes
0
No
2
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102179D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB73)
Reported from Courts of Justice (19-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice (13-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB73ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB73)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 58 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0058)
Verify the information
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