All Roll Calls
Yes: 223 • No: 0
Sponsored By: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)
Became Law
Proceedings to establish paternity. Adds the methods by which the Department of Social Services administratively establishes paternity for the purposes of child support enforcement to the lists of ways that a parent and child relationship may be established in domestic relations proceedings under Title 20 and that a parent and child relationship may be established for determining rights related to a deed, will, trust, or other instrument. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.
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4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Proof that a woman gave birth establishes maternity. A scientifically reliable DNA or blood test showing at least 98% probability establishes paternity like a court judgment. A voluntary sworn acknowledgment signed by both parents has the same effect; either parent may cancel it within 60 days unless a court or agency order came first. Sworn acknowledgments signed before July 1, 1990, still count as judgments. Parentage can also be set by lawful adoption, by the state procedures under Sections 63.2-1913 and 63.2-1914, and for assisted conception by the listed chapters.
An adopted person is the legal child of the adoptive parent, not the biological parents, except in a stepparent adoption. A child born outside marriage is the mother's child; a man is the father if the parents took part in a marriage ceremony or paternity is proven by clear and convincing evidence, including reliable genetic testing. Even with such proof, the father or his kin inherit only if he openly treated the child as his and did not refuse support. For a child born out of wedlock to claim from a deceased parent, an affidavit and a parentage case must be filed within one year, unless parentage was already on the birth record, admitted under oath, or ruled by a court. If a parent's residual parental rights are terminated, that parent loses the right to inherit from or through the child unless the order says otherwise.
The law bars legal parentage when a child was conceived due to certain sexual crimes. This applies if the person was convicted or found by clear and convincing evidence. The bar does not apply if the parents later live together and share custody, or if that person lets the other parent establish parentage.
You can start a parentage case with a sworn petition. The child, a parent, someone claiming to be a parent, a person acting as a parent, a legal custodian, or a state social services or juvenile justice representative may file. A child may be a party; if the child is a minor, the court appoints a guardian ad litem. The child's mother or father cannot serve as the child's guardian. Circuit courts share jurisdiction with juvenile and domestic relations courts when parentage is at issue, and decisions bind only the parties.
Patrick A. Hope
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 223 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/10/2026
Passed Senate Block Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/9/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/9/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Reported from Courts of Justice
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 2/10/2026
Read third time and passed House Block Vote
Yes: 98 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2026
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s)
Yes: 22 • No: 0
House vote • 1/28/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0369)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 369 (effective 7/1/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB224)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB224ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB224)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB224)
Engrossed by House as amended
committee amendments agreed to
Read second time
Read first time
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)
Chaptered
4/8/2026
Enrolled
3/30/2026
Engrossed
2/9/2026
Amendment
2/4/2026
Amendment
1/28/2026
Introduced
1/8/2026
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