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HB 1852

"Family or household member"; clarifies definition.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jed Arnold

HB 1852 clarifies Virginia's "family or household member" definition to standardize domestic violence protections and related family law applications across courts.

Left in Courts of Justice
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Bill Summary · HB 1852

Legislative bill overview

HB 1852 clarifies the legal definition of "family or household member" in Virginia code, likely to address ambiguities in how domestic violence, protective order, and related family law statutes apply. The bill was introduced by Delegate Jed Arnold and is currently under review in the Courts of Justice Committee.

Why is this important

Definitional clarity in family law directly affects who qualifies for domestic violence protective orders, custody considerations, and legal remedies. Vague definitions can leave some individuals without legal protection or create inconsistent application across courts, making this a substantive issue affecting vulnerable populations and judicial consistency.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope expansion vs. limitation: Clarification could either broaden protections to include dating partners, cohabitants, or other relationships currently excluded, or narrow existing protections—each interpretation has stakeholder support and opposition
  • Domestic violence advocacy alignment: Women's advocacy groups and DV service providers may have different views depending on whether the change strengthens or weakens existing protective frameworks
  • Implementation burden: Courts and law enforcement may need training on new definitions, creating administrative costs and potential transition challenges

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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