VirginiaHB14902026 Regular SessionHouse

Child abuse or neglect; establishes centralized hotline for reports or complaints, report.

Sponsored By: Kathy K.L. Tran (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Department of Social Services; centralized intake system for reports or complaints of child abuse or neglect; response to complaints within 24 hours for children under three years of age. Establishes a centralized hotline for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect. The bill requires the Department of Social Services to establish and maintain a hotline for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and specifies that the Department shall determine the validity of such reports and complaints. The bill eliminates the requirement that local departments must be capable of receiving and responding to reports and complaints of abuse or neglect and instead requires that any complaint of child abuse or neglect received by a local department shall be immediately forwarded to the Department's child abuse and neglect hotline. Such provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Department of Social Services to (i) promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2027, and (ii) contract with a third party by August 1, 2026, to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the screening process used for child protective services complaints across Virginia.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster response for babies and disabled kids

Local departments must respond within 24 hours to a valid report about a child under age 3. The Department decides if reports about children under 3 or children under 18 with disabilities are valid. The State Board must adopt these rules, with a public comment chance before the first adoption.

Public dashboard on child protection cases

The law creates a public Child Protection Accountability System run by the Department. Each year, it posts locality-level totals on reports, valid reports, investigations, founded cases, and appeals, with victim age, gender, abuse type, and relationship details. It also shows arrests, court cases, and sentencing stats for listed offenses. Data are combined and posted online and in print without names or personal details. Beginning July 1, 2027, this reporting starts and former §63.2-1510 is repealed.

Statewide child abuse hotline and intake

The Department of Social Services runs a 24/7 hotline and website to take any child abuse or neglect report. Every complaint is logged in a single statewide case system that protects family privacy. The Department reviews each report for validity and immediately routes valid ones to the right local office for an investigation or family assessment. The Department must widely share the phone number and website so people know how to report. The State Board sets the rules for centralized intake and validity by July 1, 2027. Intake duties shift from local offices to the state in phases from July 1, 2028 to July 1, 2030; local offices keep intake until they are included.

Study to improve CPS screening

The Department hires an independent reviewer to study how CPS screens reports across Virginia. A work group of state and local partners reviews the study, costs, and best practices. The Department must report findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kathy K.L. Tran

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 420 • No: 115

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 93 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/12/2026

Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 0 • No: 99

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute rejected

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 88 • No: 7

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 2/5/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 7 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0865)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 865 (Effective - see bill)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1490)

    4/7/2026House
  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1490)

    4/6/2026House
  5. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  6. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  7. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1490ER)

    3/30/2026House
  9. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  10. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  11. Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  12. Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  13. Conference Report released

    3/13/2026
  14. House Conferees: Tran, Callsen, Kent

    3/12/2026House
  15. Conferees appointed by House

    3/12/2026House
  16. House acceded to request

    3/12/2026House
  17. Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026Senate
  18. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/12/2026Senate
  19. Senate Conferees: Pillion, VanValkenburg, Favola

    3/12/2026Senate
  20. Senate requested conference committee

    3/12/2026Senate
  21. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1490)

    3/10/2026House
  23. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  24. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  25. Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute rejected

    3/10/2026Senate

Bill Text

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