Virginia House of Delegates bill in Session 2026.
Status: passed_lower. Latest action: March 9, 2026.
Rules of construction; use of "shall.
effective clause, report.", Rules of construction; use of 'shall.' Provides that 'shall,' as used in the Code of Virginia, establishes a mandatory requirement and is not merely directory, unless the statute explicitly provides otherwise. The bill responds to the holding in Henderson v. Commonwealth , 77 Va. App. 250 (2023), in which the Court of Appeals held that when the General Assembly uses 'shall' in a statute commanding action by a public official or public body such usage is directory and not mandatory.
| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | Introduced | Bill introduced |
| 2026-02-12 | Status | passed_lower |
| 2026-03-09 | Latest Action | S Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (11-Y 4-N) |