Bill Commons

VA HB 309

enacted

Hospitals; temporary detention for testing, observation, or treatment.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 309 pass?

Yes. VA HB 309 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0588)

What is VA HB 309 about?

Temporary detention in hospital for testing, observation, or treatment. Provides that while seeking the issuance of an order for temporary detention in a hospital for testing, observation, or treatment, or an extension of such order, the person who would be subject to such order and is currently subject to an order issued pursuant to current law shall remain in the custody of the facility where he is located for up to two hours, and any security personnel shall ensure that such person does not leave the facility while such person is unable to provide informed consent. The bill states that the person shall be permitted to leave the facility if (i) such order is not issued; (ii) the physician determines the person does not meet the requirements for temporary detention; or (iii) the person's guardian or person legally authorized to make an informed decision on his behalf refuses to consent to continued detention, testing, observation, or treatment. The bill also provides that any licensed health professional, licensed hospital, including a hospital licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to relevant law, or security personnel assisting a licensed health professional shall have no liability arising out of a claim to the extent the claim is based on a lack of consent to the detention of a person when such professional or hospital is seeking the court's or magistrate's authorization for such detention.

Who sponsors VA HB 309?

Patrick A. Hope is the primary sponsor of VA HB 309.

Description

Temporary detention in hospital for testing, observation, or treatment. Provides that while seeking the issuance of an order for temporary detention in a hospital for testing, observation, or treatment, or an extension of such order, the person who would be subject to such order and is currently subject to an order issued pursuant to current law shall remain in the custody of the facility where he is located for up to two hours, and any security personnel shall ensure that such person does not leave the facility while such person is unable to provide informed consent. The bill states that the person shall be permitted to leave the facility if (i) such order is not issued; (ii) the physician determines the person does not meet the requirements for temporary detention; or (iii) the person's guardian or person legally authorized to make an informed decision on his behalf refuses to consent to continued detention, testing, observation, or treatment. The bill also provides that any licensed health professional, licensed hospital, including a hospital licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to relevant law, or security personnel assisting a licensed health professional shall have no liability arising out of a claim to the extent the claim is based on a lack of consent to the detention of a person when such professional or hospital is seeking the court's or magistrate's authorization for such detention.

Introduced
2026-01-09
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0588)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Patrick A. Hopeprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-09

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102967D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-09

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-16

    Assigned sub: Behavioral Health

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-01-27

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB309)

  5. 2026-01-29

    House subcommittee offered

  6. 2026-01-29

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)

    substitution

  7. 2026-02-03

    Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  8. 2026-02-03

    Committee substitute printed 26106522D-H1

    substitution

  9. 2026-02-04

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB309)

  10. 2026-02-05

    Read first time

    reading-1

  11. 2026-02-06

    Read second time

    reading-2

  12. 2026-02-06

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  13. 2026-02-06

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  14. 2026-02-09

    Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  15. 2026-02-10

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  16. 2026-02-10

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    referral-committee

  17. 2026-02-19

    Rereferred from Education and Health to Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)

    referral-committee

  18. 2026-03-02

    Senate committee offered

  19. 2026-03-02

    Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  20. 2026-03-03

    Rules suspended

  21. 2026-03-03

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-03-03

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-03-04

    Read third time

    reading-3

  24. 2026-03-04

    Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to

    amendment-passage

  25. 2026-03-04

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  26. 2026-03-04

    Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  27. 2026-03-06

    Senate amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    amendment-passage

  28. 2026-03-13

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  29. 2026-03-13

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB309ER)

    passage

  30. 2026-03-13

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB309)

  31. 2026-03-13

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  32. 2026-03-13

    Signed by President

    passage

  33. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  34. 2026-03-14

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  35. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 588 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  36. 2026-04-13

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0588)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-01-29 · pass · 8-0

    Member-level votes (8)
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes

  • Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

    2026-02-03 · pass · 22-0

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-09 · pass · 98-0

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: not voting
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: yes

  • Rereferred from Education and Health

    2026-02-19 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: not voting
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes

  • Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments

    2026-03-02 · pass · 15-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes

  • Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

    2026-03-02 · pass · 8-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Russet Perry: abstain
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-03 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-04 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-06 · pass · 97-0

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: not voting
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: not voting
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB309

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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