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Bill

SB 957

Protective orders; military protective orders.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Danny Diggs and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia law now recognizes and enforces military protective orders through state courts, extending abuse protection mechanisms to active-duty service members effective July 1, 2025.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0217)
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Bill Summary · SB 957

Legislative bill overview

SB 957 expands Virginia's protective order framework to include military protective orders (MPOs) issued by military commanders. The bill establishes procedures for recognizing, enforcing, and modifying these orders within the state's civil court system, creating parity between military and civilian protective order mechanisms.

Why is this important

Military personnel often lack access to civilian protective order remedies while stationed or deployed, leaving gaps in protection from harassment, abuse, or threats. This legislation closes that gap by allowing military protective orders to be enforced through Virginia courts, providing active-duty service members and their families with additional legal recourse without requiring separate civilian proceedings.

Potential points of contention

  • Jurisdictional clarity: Questions about how military and civilian courts coordinate enforcement and modification of overlapping or conflicting orders
  • Due process standards: Concerns about whether military-issued protective orders meet the same evidentiary and procedural standards as civilian court orders
  • Scope limitations: Debate over whether MPOs should apply only to military-specific contexts or broadly across all civilian interactions

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

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