VA HB 976
enactedPerson in temporary detention process; alternative transportation provider.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did VA HB 976 pass?
Yes. VA HB 976 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. 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
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101839D
filing,introduction
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
referral-committee
2026-01-21
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)
2026-01-23
Assigned sub: Behavioral Health
referral-committee
2026-02-12
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-12
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)
substitution
2026-02-12
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-12
Committee substitute printed 26107183D-H1
substitution
2026-02-15
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-16
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-16
committee substitute agreed to
substitution
2026-02-16
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
substitution
2026-02-17
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-17
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)
2026-02-17
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)
2026-02-18
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
referral-committee
2026-02-25
Rereferred from Courts of Justice to Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N)
referral-committee
2026-02-27
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-03-02
Rules suspended
2026-03-02
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-02
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-03
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-10
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB976)
2026-03-10
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-10
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB976ER)
passage
2026-03-10
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-10
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-14
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-14
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 720 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
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:
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.