Committee Considers Extending Temporary Protective Orders, Adding Limited Financial Relief (HB 497)
Sponsors asked the Judiciary Committee to extend the temporary-protective-order window from 7 to 14 days and to allow courts to award limited financial losses caused by abuse. Advocates and MSBA supported extension; judiciary raised narrow concerns about scope of monetary relief but did not oppose the 14-day change.
The full story
Delegate Simpson and coalition witnesses described House Bill 497 as a practical set of improvements to the protective-order process. The bill would extend the temporary protective-order (TPO) period from seven to 14 days to reduce postponements and allow more time for service and counsel access. It also would permit courts at final hearings to award limited, direct financial losses (for example small emergency expenses and property repair) caused by the abuse.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.
Keep reading for free
Create a free account to finish this story and see the video, transcript and key details.
Continue with GoogleContinue with emailAlready have an account? Log in