Virginia · House Bill 1713 · 2025 Regular Session

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

HB 1713 Sponsored by Vivian E. Watts Vetoed

  1. Introduced Jan 4, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 4, 2025
  3. Passed the House of Delegates Feb 4, 2025
  4. Passed the Senate Feb 17, 2025
  5. To the governor Mar 3, 2025
  6. Vetoed Mar 24, 2025

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

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 charges after a preliminary hearing to determine if probable cause exists for such charges.

Every action

29 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 21 earlier steps
  1. House of DelegatesPrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102619D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  3. House of DelegatesFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1713)
  4. CommitteeAssigned Courts sub: Criminal · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 1
  5. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  6. CommitteeSubcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 1-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 17–1 vote
  7. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  8. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice (16-Y 6-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice16–6 vote
  9. House of DelegatesRead first time
  10. House of DelegatesRead second time and engrossed
  11. House of DelegatesRead third time and passed House (55-Y 44-N)55–44 vote
  12. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
  13. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · Senate Courts of Justice
  14. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) · Senate Courts of Justice15–0 vote
  15. SenateRules suspended
  16. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (36-Y 0-N)36–0 vote
  17. SenatePassed by for the day
  18. SenateRead third time
  19. SenatePassed Senate (39-Y 0-N)39–0 vote
  20. House of DelegatesEnrolled
  21. House of DelegatesBill text as passed House and Senate (HB1713ER)
  1. House of DelegatesSigned by Speaker
  2. House of DelegatesFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1713)
  3. SenateSigned by President
  4. House of DelegatesEnrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025
  5. GovernorGovernor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
  6. House of DelegatesGovernor's Veto Received by House
  7. GovernorVetoed by Governor
  8. House of DelegatesHouse sustained Governor's veto

Roll calls

6 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 3 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Read third time and passed House (55-Y 44-N) · Full House of Delegates

Passed 55–44
Feb 4, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 55 No 44 Not voting 1
Party not listed: 8 yes, 15 no Democrats: 45 yes, 0 no Republicans: 2 yes, 29 no
How each member voted

Yes · 55

No · 44

Not voting · 1

Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (36-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

36–0
Feb 14, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 36 No 0 Not voting 4
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 15 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 36

Not voting · 4

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) · Full Senate

Passed 39–0
Feb 17, 2025 · journal entry
Yes 39 No 0 Not voting 1
Party not listed: 2 yes, 0 no Democrats: 19 yes, 0 no Republicans: 18 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 39

Not voting · 1

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 24, 2025 House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Subcommittee 1 Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 1-N)
Members

Yes · 7

No · 1

Not voting · 1

 7–1
Jan 29, 2025 House of Delegates Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice (16-Y 6-N)
Members

Yes · 16

No · 6

 Passed 16–6
Feb 12, 2025 Senate Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 15

 Passed 15–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.