SB351
Courthouses; definition of "arrest under civil process," certain civil arrests prohibited, penalty.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Saddam Azlan Salim (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Certain civil arrests prohibited in courthouses; penalty.
Provides that a party who is required to attend any court of the Commonwealth, or such party's family or household member or person attending the court with such party to serve as a witness, shall be privileged from civil arrest, defined in the bill, while attending, going to, or coming ... (More) from the court. The bill also prohibits a person with the lawful authority to perform civil arrests from entering a courthouse to conduct a civil arrest unless he complies with certain requirements, including presenting a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing the civil arrest to a sheriff, deputy sheriff, law-enforcement officer, or other person designated to provide security to the courthouse. Additionally, the bill requires that any judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing the civil arrest be reviewed by a designated judicial officer or attorney before a civil arrest pursuant to such warrant or order can be performed. Finally, the bill provides that any person who conducts a civil arrest, or facilitates or assists with the performance of, a civil arrest in violation of the provisions of the bill shall be punished with contempt of court. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101062D
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/28/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 01/28/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
- 01/30/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 01/30/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 01/30/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26106261D-S1
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/06/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/06/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/06/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 02/17/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/26/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/27/2026 - House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
- 02/27/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26108859D-H1
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB351)
- 03/03/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/04/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/04/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 03/04/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 03/04/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- 03/09/2026 - House: House insisted on substitute
- 03/09/2026 - House: House requested conference committee
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Salim, Perry, McDougle
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Callsen, Simon, Cornett
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Conference substitute printed 26109956D-S2
- 03/14/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
