VirginiaHB2482026 Regular SessionHouse

Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; development of behavioral health co-response teams.

Sponsored By: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; behavioral health co-response teams. Provides that interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements may allow for the development of co-response teams staffed by one or more law-enforcement agencies that respond to behavioral health-related calls in multiple jurisdictions. This bill is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to SB 317.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Sheriffs can police towns by contract

Counties, towns, and the county sheriff can sign a three-party service contract for the sheriff to police the town. Under the contract, the sheriff is the town’s chief of police. The sheriff and deputies can enforce the town’s ordinances and have the same powers and protections as regular town officers while serving the town. The contract sets any extra terms the parties want.

Stronger cross-jurisdiction police and crisis response

The law lets local governments and listed police agencies sign two-way agreements to share police services. Deals can set exact 911 boundary lines and say who covers workers’ comp and risk insurance. Partners may loan unmarked police cars and create joint teams to handle behavioral health calls across areas. Localities can also merge police functions, and officers working under an agreement have full powers and protections in each member area. It does not give local officers power to enforce federal law, or federal officers power to enforce state law, without a separate statute.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Vivian E. Watts

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 221 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Reported from Local Government Block Vote

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 1/23/2026

Reported from Public Safety

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/22/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0535)

    4/10/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 535 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/10/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB248)

    3/2/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB248ER)

    3/2/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/2/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/2/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/2/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/25/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/25/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/24/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/24/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/24/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Local Government Block Vote (14-Y 0-N)

    2/23/2026Senate
  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB248)

    2/10/2026House
  17. Referred to Committee on Local Government

    1/30/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    1/30/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/29/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    1/28/2026House
  21. Read first time

    1/27/2026House
  22. Reported from Public Safety (22-Y 0-N)

    1/23/2026House
  23. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

    1/22/2026House
  24. Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2

    1/16/2026House
  25. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

    1/8/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation