[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6392203,"mediaKeyId","2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf","parentId",2110191,"title","Subcommittee advances bill letting judges waive 72-hour sheriff notice after writ of possession in squatter cases","audioSeconds",1458,"startMs",455000,"endMs",1913000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf&start=455&end=1913","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf/thumbnail_455000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6392203/Virginia/Subcommittee-advances-bill-letting-judges-waive-72-hour-sheriff-notice-after-writ-of-possession-in-squatter-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392203-d6d03483b6cc1929cd58f85c59d68e80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440057&Signature=J~v0Cq-8nD-8sS4aIYB8DMLqUut4ZI6ZMeQC7tq7A6k5GhUfrSpfWr1oRnQyTsfNPZLXspZDs7mkUiApRskYk1J0FT1Ws7Za0bSRP8J5m6StzCYNfaULs1zVSauvb0Ft960CeiBYeN09tYmi344LZ7MwdLt3-JgeZCbwm2yJHIKP4lzWaFssxNj5ZuZS53iZwe3DVeME6NAJ7WwraRSmf0zC1k8wsfvL-cHwiuHxkhLaOSbZ4ILe7fpzDy3~JezRqsd3DOQYsHGRgrPU8SfHaLxqM-WnouAEtokxp33~ueIlLBydf719U2h~F2PJC6Yl-RTggga6vNSu2b8jVZE-Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Legislature","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","HB 1584, patroned by Delegate Mark Ballard, would allow a court to waive the 72-hour notice by the sheriff that currently follows a writ of possession in unlawful detainer cases involving people who never entered into a rental agreement. The House subcommittee advanced the bill to the full committee on a 6-2 vote.

The bill targets so-called squatter scenarios, Delegate Ballard told the subcommittee, saying the measure \"isn't trying to disrupt appellate rights\" but instead would \"eliminate the situation where once you are granted that writ of possession, you then have to wait 72 hours to actually get back into the single-family dwelling.\" Ballard said the change applies only when there has never been a rental agreement, oral or written.

Proponents described the measure as a narrow fix to speed possession where a homeowner proves there was never a tenancy. \"It's dealing with a situation where there has never been an agreement,\" Ballard said, adding that the bill leaves the court's 10-day appeal period for unlawful detainer judgments intact.

Opponents and some legal-aid advocates told the subcommittee the bill may not produce the expedited effect supporters described. A representative of the Virginia Poverty Law Center said removing the 72-hour sheriff notice would not necessarily advance removal because an existing 10-day appeal or administrative period would still block execution of an eviction. \"Even if you eliminate that 72-hour notice from the sheriff, I believe there would still be that 10-day waiting period,\" the center's representative said.

Members raised other practical concerns: several delegates asked whether defendants who are unrepresented or of limited means would lose an effective opportunity to present evidence of an oral agreement before the sheriff acts, and whether the language should tell courts what circumstances justify waiving the notice. Counsel and the bill patron said the bill does not change the hearing or evidence rules and that waiving the 72-hour notice would remain at the judge's discretion.

Supporters and critics also debated timing: realtors and others explained how, in practice, a plaintiff can combine the 10-day appeals period and the sheriff notice to create a maximum delay of about 13 days, and that sheriff cooperation (and the judge's direction) affects how quickly a writ is executed. Delegate Ballard and counsel reiterated that the bill is limited to post-judgment timing and not to the underlying evidentiary process.

The subcommittee voted to report HB 1584 to the full committee with a 6-2 roll call. The action record in committee lists the motion to report; the tally reported by the clerk was 6 yes, 2 no.

Votes at a glance
HB 1584 — Author: Delegate Ballard — Motion to report passed by subcommittee: 6 yes, 2 no. Outcome: advanced to full committee.

Code and process cited
The discussion referenced Code of Virginia § 8.01-126 (unlawful detainer and writs of possession) and § 8.01-129 (timeframes and sheriff execution). Supporters and advocates repeatedly noted that the bill does not change the 10-day appeals period tied to the unlawful detainer process.

What happens next
HB 1584 was advanced to the full committee for further consideration. The subcommittee record shows proponents and legal-aid representatives asked for clarifying language and for consultation with stakeholders before floor consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Civil Subcommittee Monday, Jan 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","HB 1584, patroned by Delegate Mark Ballard, would allow a court to waive the 72-hour sheriff notice that now follows a writ of possession in unlawful detainer cases where no rental agreement existed; a House subcommittee voted 6-2 to report the bill to the full committee.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature VA, Virginia","taxId",77687,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6392193,"Subcommittee advances bill letting juries decide employer liability for employee sexual assaults; hospitals and business groups oppose",1359,2657000,4016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf&start=2657&end=4016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf/thumbnail_2657000.jpg","/articles/6392193/Virginia/Subcommittee-advances-bill-letting-juries-decide-employer-liability-for-employee-sexual-assaults-hospitals-and-business-groups-oppose","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392193-66430df3d6497020070b373552fe8697/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440057&Signature=EbkosB7TOR-h6DXaIeTHQPft7isAGZU8yeb2xi9nweSfvZ7sezJYDmgEBNe6G17axeUmjO29yP-27LG~2KoplG3mqp9AzzTDrnaKoj7RB-1IbsW0AvKc5s6Gkq71cjvYKxDDK~Fp8J5-Wyokmr1ypsPBTWqY3pBzSW5x~CJZTIKvNza3Ae1Z2DxngZkzf-uEfL0uAh0R~LoAJeyOv8x06XKYeBaxe2tkr7GaRHP8AlCC6-~e5D31LYFaYkyoMOoku-VRrQ-7xNEuRN4sgdLYjvCEFMYsyf5aUI1dnyk0X2Nl4p09dm1FwsoEwttvV-ugD51HJFpJMya1aVX3HtKG6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A House subcommittee advanced legislation that would allow juries to decide whether employers or principals can be held civilly liable for intentional sexual assaults by employees or agents. The committee voted 7-1 to report the measure to the full committee.

Sponsor Delegate Delaney and bill counsel framed the bill as a statutory response to a recent Virginia Supreme Court trilogy that, they said, moved core questions of scope of employment out of the jury's hands. \"We're creating a door where one has been shut,\" said a bill proponent, urging the subcommittee to restore a jury's ability to decide course-and-scope questions in cases alleging intentional sexual assaults.

Proponents emphasized the bill is not intended to impose strict liability. Counsel described the measure as a jury instruction or finding rule: if the jury finds certain factual predicates (including a but-for causal relationship and that the assault occurred on employer premises or while the employee was performing assigned duties), the jury may find the act occurred within the course and scope of employment. Counsel repeatedly said plaintiffs would still need to prove causation and damages by the civil preponderance-of-the-evidence standard.

Opponents included the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association, and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Emily Webb of the Virginia Chamber told the panel the bill would \"place an undue burden on employers by holding them liable for criminal actions of employees or agents even when such actions may be entirely outside of the employer's knowledge or control.\" Hospital representatives warned that in practical effect the statutory language could operate like strict liability and that large campus employers would face heightened exposure even when they conduct background checks and other screening.

Defense counsel and business groups raised additional drafting concerns that a provision using the phrase \"shall be deemed\" could operate like a conclusive finding and asked whether a rebuttable-presumption standard might preserve fact-finder flexibility and due process for employers. Representatives for defense attorneys also asked whether the statute's references to \"employer or principal\" and to \"employee or agent\" could sweep in subcontractors or persons not directly employed by an entity.

Supporters said the bill is limited to the intentional tort of sexual assault and would not convert intentional-tort claims into strict liability. Delegates on the panel pressed for further drafting conversations; the sponsor and several committee members said they expected additional negotiation before floor consideration.

The subcommittee voted to report the bill to the full committee by a 7-1 roll call. The clerk recorded the motion to report and the vote tally as 7 yes, 1 no.

Votes at a glance
Bill (author Delaney) — Motion to report: passed by subcommittee 7 yes, 1 no. Outcome: advanced to full committee.

What happens next
The sponsor and opponents signaled a willingness to continue technical drafting discussions; the bill will proceed to the full committee with a subcommittee report.","A House subcommittee voted 7-1 to advance a bill that would let juries decide whether an employer or principal can be civilly liable for an employee's intentional sexual assault.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6392198,"Subcommittee clears technical fix to Uniform Trust Code to broaden who may serve as trustee",138,1932000,2070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf&start=1932&end=2070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110191-96972ca36e8f62e1bf1aa3b4fa9e7abf/thumbnail_1932000.jpg","/articles/6392198/Virginia/Subcommittee-clears-technical-fix-to-Uniform-Trust-Code-to-broaden-who-may-serve-as-trustee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392198-f04d426eaea40a3fe1cc039571a376e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440057&Signature=XORHC3DF-i2ajjfrHIPDIdM9OZKJ0FO6GDiUXY7hxcyDil9HDiykHpfiCFTJrQvFEyku7T-ankQAOhEV~9HZsyz01TzYntpdR3EiGmJ7iglOap05XX3Py~s-tY4DLCoBWYtWhG9L9QevaKaBOSMQxxUCCL4S4eEi4D9UfDBhkR3YDntDbDtvT6iMoMKC0Ioz0V2rYAfAIfW-~8qoBfFyxBJrk0t2fqj4OOSjJhyrW2jRKLeN8DOC2suj0X7n~ftGmqhvW-d45Zfh08nm0yAFjmqHncxqmuU-hDGXS-3De9nnvBFRlLGOMpKUBhc4r-LAij7DmJvnerxYmU9x3~mQTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The subcommittee moved HB 1605, a technical amendment to the Uniform Trust Code, to the full committee by an 8-0 vote.

Delegate Carlson, sponsor of HB 1605, described the bill as a narrowly drawn technical correction to definitions in the code that would allow more qualified entities to serve as trustees of self-settled spendthrift trusts. An expert in estate and trust law, identified in committee as Catherine Grama, joined the committee to answer technical questions.

Carlson and the witnesses characterized the change as correcting an editorial or drafting error so that charitable organizations and other qualified entities could serve in trustee roles expressly contemplated by the Uniform Trust Code. No members indicated opposition during debate, and the clerk recorded an 8-0 report vote.

Votes at a glance
HB 1605 — Author: Delegate Carlson — Motion to report passed by subcommittee: 8 yes, 0 no. Outcome: advanced to full committee.

What happens next
HB 1605 will proceed to the full committee. Sponsors described the bill as technical; committee members asked no substantive policy questions on the record.","HB 1605, a technical change to the Uniform Trust Code to expand the definition of qualified trustees, passed the subcommittee 8-0. The sponsor and bill proponents described it as a clerical/technical correction to allow additional qualified entities to serve as trustees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee advances bill letting judges waive 72-hour sheriff notice after writ of possession in squatter cases

Subcommittee advances bill letting juries decide employer liability for employee sexual assaults; hospitals and business groups oppose

Subcommittee clears technical fix to Uniform Trust Code to broaden who may serve as trustee