# Virginia HB249: Marcus alert system; external database information removal.

Virginia HB249, Marcus alert system; external database information removal., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Vivian E. Watts (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0095)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB249-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB249
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Marcus alert system; external database information removal.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0095)
- Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (210 yes, 8 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Marcus alert system; external database information removal. Clarifies that an individual's information may continue to appear on a voluntary Marcus alert system external database that cannot be modified by a locality after such individual reaches 18 years of age. This bill is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local crisis protocols and 9-1-1 diversion: benefit, medium. Localities with more than 40,000 people must adopt Marcus alert protocols that the state approves. Localities with 40,000 or fewer may adopt them. Population counts come from the 2020 U.S. Census. Every locality must set 9-1-1 rules that send suitable calls to a crisis call center for risk checks.…
- Statewide rules for mental-health crisis response: benefit, medium. The law puts the state behavioral health department in charge of Marcus alert rules. Beginning July 1, 2021, the department develops a written plan that sets roles and tracks progress. All police protocols and training are built with local behavioral-health partners and must be approved by the stat…
- Voluntary crisis info with privacy protections: mixed, low. Starting July 1, 2023, each locality offers a voluntary database for 9-1-1 and Marcus alert. You, a parent of a minor, or a court-appointed guardian can add contact and mental-health information. Records are removed at age 18 unless you or your guardian ask to keep them. If your data sits in an out…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice Block Vote | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 93 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 20 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 1 |   |

## Actions (26)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0095) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 95 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB249) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB249ER) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from Courts of Justice Block Vote (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed House (93-Y 5-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-23: Reported from Public Safety (20-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB249) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102854D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216267.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216266.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177828.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177827.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083255.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083254.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216267.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216266.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177828.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177827.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083255.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083254.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [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-HB249-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).