# Virginia HB1844: Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling requirements for toxic heavy metals.

Virginia HB1844, Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling requirements for toxic heavy metals., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-05-02 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0693)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1844-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1844
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling requirements for toxic heavy metals.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-05-02, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0693)
- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (490 yes, 46 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling requirements for toxic heavy metals. Prohibits a person from selling, distributing, or offering for sale a baby food product that contains certain toxic heavy metals that exceed the limits established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bill requires a manufacturer of a baby food product to meet certain testing requirements and include certain information related to toxic heavy metals on the manufacturer's website and on the baby food product. The bill requires a consumer to report a baby food product to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services if the consumer reasonably believes that the baby food is being sold in the Commonwealth with toxic heavy metals that exceed the limits established by the FDA. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026. The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on the current enforcement of laws related to the presence of toxic heavy metals in baby food products and any further action needed to address the issue of toxic heavy metals in baby food products. The bill requires the work group to report on its findings and recommendations by the first day of the 2026 Regular Session.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | House | Passed by for the day Block Vote | pass | 47 | 46 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Senate Amendment agreed to by House | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-18 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-17 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-14 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-21 | House | Referred from General Laws and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (44)

- 2025-05-02: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0693) (Governor)
- 2025-05-02: Approved by Governor-Chapter 693 (Effective 01/01/26) (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (47-Y 46-N) (House)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2025-03-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1844) (House)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1844ER) (House)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-19: Senate Amendment agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-18: Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1844) (House)
- 2025-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Printed as engrossed 25101070D-E (House)
- 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2025-02-03: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-31: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Assigned Approps sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-24: Assigned ACNR sub: Agriculture (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred from General Laws and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2025-01-06: Introduced bill reprinted 25101070D (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25101070D (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25101070D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079924.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079923.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073496.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064295.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064294.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059826.HTML)
- Amendment, 2025-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050538.HTML)
- Amendment, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047148.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2025-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1038042.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1038041.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1032998.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013485.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013484.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079924.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079923.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073496.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064295.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064294.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059826.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050538.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047148.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1038042.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1038041.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1032998.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013485.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013484.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1844-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).