# Virginia HB2350: Emergency Management, Department of; powers & duties, development & implementation of guidelines. Virginia HB2350, Emergency Management, Department of; powers & duties, development & implementation of guidelines., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Debra D. Gardner (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-05-02 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2350-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB2350 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Emergency Management, Department of; powers & duties, development & implementation of guidelines. - Status: to governor - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-08 - Last action: 2025-05-02, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Debra D. Gardner (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 9 (243 yes, 178 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Department of Emergency Management; powers and duties; development and implementation of standardized guidelines and training programs. Provides for the Department of Emergency Management (the Department) to consult with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services regarding the development of standardized guidelines for mental health support during an emergency or extended incident. The bill also requires the Department to develop a training program comprised of National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles, the state's Incident Command System (ICS) structure, and the role of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Under the bill, each agency head shall be required to complete the training within six months of appointment and again every two years thereafter. In addition, the bill provides for the Department to (i) offer health and safety training to volunteer organizations incorporated into the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) and (ii) establish a health monitoring system for volunteers to be implemented during a declared state of emergency. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 1386. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Debra D. Gardner (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | House | House rejected Governor's recommendation | fail | 20 | 75 | | | 2025-02-18 | House | Senate Amendment agreed to by House | pass | 52 | 45 | | | 2025-02-14 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote | pass | 36 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2025-02-05 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 | | | 2025-01-30 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 50 | 46 | | | 2025-01-24 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 12 | 10 | | | 2025-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 4 | 2 | 1 | ## Actions (34) - 2025-05-02: Vetoed by Governor (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: House rejected Governor's recommendation (20-Y 75-N) (House) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2025-03-05: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-05: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 5, 2025 (House) - 2025-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2350) (House) - 2025-02-23: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2350ER) (House) - 2025-02-20: Enrolled (House) - 2025-02-20: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-18: Senate Amendment agreed to by House (52-Y 45-N) (House) - 2025-02-14: Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (36-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2025-02-14: General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Reading of amendment waived (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-01-30: Read third time and passed House (50-Y 46-N) (House) - 2025-01-29: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2025-01-28: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2350) (House) - 2025-01-24: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) (House) - 2025-01-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 2-N) (House) - 2025-01-21: Assigned PS sub: Public Safety (House) - 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102787D (House) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080025.HTML) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073535.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059341.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059340.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053195.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042773.HTML) - Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016012.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016011.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 - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080025.HTML) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073535.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059341.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059340.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053195.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042773.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016012.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016011.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) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2350-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).