Bill Commons

VA HB 976

enacted

Person in temporary detention process; alternative transportation provider.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Follow this bill’s action updates (Atom)

Subscribe in a feed reader. The feed covers recorded actions from the last 30 days; Bill Commons may record an action after it happened at the legislature.

Quick answers

Did VA HB 976 pass?

Yes. VA HB 976 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 720 (effective 7/1/2026)

What is VA HB 976 about?

Transportation of person in the temporary detention process. Provides that an alternative transportation provider shall be deemed to be able to provide transportation of a person in the temporary detention process in a safe manner if the alternative transportation provider is (i) an employee of, or the person providing services pursuant to a contract with, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or (ii) an employee of a private or state hospital within the confines of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides further requirements for an alternative transportation provider to be deemed available to provide transportation for a minor in the temporary detention process in a safe manner. The bill also permits law-enforcement agencies or alternative transportation providers to transfer custody of a minor to a facility or location where the minor is awaiting transport if such facility or location (i) agrees to accept custody of the minor and (ii) is capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the minor and others from harm. Finally, the bill provides restrictions on the use of restraint related to the transportation of a minor for the purposes outlined in the bill.The provisions of this bill are identical to relevant provisions of SB 75.

Who sponsors VA HB 976?

Marcia S. "Cia" Price is the primary sponsor of VA HB 976, joined by 2 cosponsors.

Description

Transportation of person in the temporary detention process. Provides that an alternative transportation provider shall be deemed to be able to provide transportation of a person in the temporary detention process in a safe manner if the alternative transportation provider is (i) an employee of, or the person providing services pursuant to a contract with, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or (ii) an employee of a private or state hospital within the confines of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides further requirements for an alternative transportation provider to be deemed available to provide transportation for a minor in the temporary detention process in a safe manner. The bill also permits law-enforcement agencies or alternative transportation providers to transfer custody of a minor to a facility or location where the minor is awaiting transport if such facility or location (i) agrees to accept custody of the minor and (ii) is capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the minor and others from harm. Finally, the bill provides restrictions on the use of restraint related to the transportation of a minor for the purposes outlined in the bill.The provisions of this bill are identical to relevant provisions of SB 75.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 720 (effective 7/1/2026)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Marcia S. "Cia" Priceprimary
  • Atoosa R. Reasercosponsor
  • Laura Jane Cohencosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 720 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  2. 2026-03-14

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

    executive-receipt

  3. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-10

    Signed by President

    passage

  5. 2026-03-10

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  6. 2026-03-10

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB976ER)

    passage

  7. 2026-03-10

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  8. 2026-03-10

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)

  9. 2026-03-03

    Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  10. 2026-03-03

    Read third time

    reading-3

  11. 2026-03-02

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  12. 2026-03-02

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-02

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-02-27

    Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  15. 2026-02-25

    Rereferred from Courts of Justice to Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N)

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-02-18

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    referral-committee

  17. 2026-02-18

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. 2026-02-17

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)

  19. 2026-02-17

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)

  20. 2026-02-17

    Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  21. 2026-02-16

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  22. 2026-02-16

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  23. 2026-02-16

    Read second time

    reading-2

  24. 2026-02-15

    Read first time

    reading-1

  25. 2026-02-12

    Committee substitute printed 26107183D-H1

    substitution

  26. 2026-02-12

    Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  27. 2026-02-12

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)

    substitution

  28. 2026-02-12

    House subcommittee offered

  29. 2026-01-23

    Assigned sub: Behavioral Health

    referral-committee

  30. 2026-01-21

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)

  31. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

    referral-committee

  32. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101839D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-02-12 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (8)
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: not voting
    • 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

    2026-02-12 · pass · 21-0

    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
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: not voting
  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-17 · pass · 96-0

    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: not voting
    • 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: not voting
    • 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 Courts of Justice

    2026-02-25 · 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 Rehabilitation and Social Services

    2026-02-27 · pass · 15-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-02 · pass · 39-0

    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: not voting
    • 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

    2026-03-03 · 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

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

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

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 976. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.