Bill to enhance family abuse protective order remedies passes both houses in Virginia

A bill introduced by Del. Lindsey Dougherty seeks to broaden the remedies available under family abuse protective orders, enabling courts to grant temporary child support and additional monetary relief, as reported by the Virginia State House.

The measure received approval from both chambers and was officially enrolled on March 30, 2026, passing the House with an 86-10 vote and the Senate with a 38-2 vote.

Originally filed as HB1363 on Jan. 20, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, the bill’s summary from the state legislature reads: “Family abuse protective orders; conditions imposed upon issuance.”

Below is our analysis based on the bill text, incorporating interpretive details to clarify its meaning.

The legislation expands existing remedies in family abuse protective orders by authorizing courts to order temporary child support for dependents of the respondent and provide other financial relief to the petitioner based on evidence at the hearing. Temporary child support ordered under this bill will expire when a regular support order is established pursuant to current law or when the protective order concludes, whichever is earlier. Other regulations regarding the issuance, length, enforcement, and modification of protective orders remain unchanged.

In the House, the bill was supported by 61 Democrats and 25 Republicans, while 10 Republicans voted against it.

In the Senate, 20 Democrats and 18 Republicans backed the measure, with one Democrat and one Republican voting against it.

Rep. Lindsey Dougherty (Democrat-75th District) was the sole sponsor of the bill.

Dougherty earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Dougherty was elected as a Democrat to represent Virginia’s 75th House District in 2026, succeeding Carrie Coyner in the position.

Virginia’s legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. It is then referred to committees for consideration and possible amendment. Following committee approval, the bill advances to debate and voting on the floor in both chambers. Once passed in each chamber, the bill proceeds to the governor, who has the option to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets yearly in regular session starting from the second Monday in January, processing hundreds of bills, though only some are ultimately enacted.

Information in this article was obtained from the Virginia State House. The source data can be found here.