# Virginia HB283: Child abuse or neglect; prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed. Virginia HB283, Child abuse or neglect; prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Debra D. Gardner (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0585)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB283-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB283 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Child abuse or neglect; prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-09 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0585) - Sponsor: Debra D. Gardner (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 8 (185 yes, 51 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary Child abuse or neglect; prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed. Clarifies that a pregnant woman's prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed by such woman's health care provider for opioid addiction recovery shall not solely be a reason to suspect that a child is abused or neglected. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Penalties for not reporting and protections: mixed, medium. Mandated reporters must report as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after they have reason to suspect abuse or neglect. A first failure to report on time can be fined up to $500; later failures carry fines of at least $1,000. Knowingly and intentionally failing to report in cases showing… - Clergy reporting rules and confidentiality: mixed, low. Ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and accredited religious practitioners must report suspected child abuse or neglect. They do not have to report when the information is required by their religion to be kept confidential or is protected by Virginia’s evidentiary privileges. Outside those protected… - Infant exposure reports and hospital plan: mixed, low. The law treats certain infant drug and alcohol findings as a reason to suspect abuse or neglect. A doctor’s finding within six weeks after birth that a baby was affected by drugs or has withdrawal must be reported. A diagnosis within four years that a child’s illness is from the mother’s drug abuse… - Who must report child abuse and how: mixed, low. The law requires listed professionals to report suspected child abuse or neglect right away. Report to the local child-protective department where the child lives or where the harm happened, or call the state’s toll‑free hotline. If you do not know the child’s home or where it happened, report wher… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Debra D. Gardner (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services | pass | 11 | 4 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Rereferred from Education and Health to Rehabilitation and Social Services Block Vote | pass | 13 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 73 | 25 | | | 2026-02-10 | House | Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) | pass | 20 | 2 | | | 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 7 | 1 | | ## Actions (31) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0585) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 585 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB283) (House) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB283ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (11-Y 4-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Rereferred from Education and Health to Rehabilitation and Social Services Block Vote (13-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB283) (House) - 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed House (73-Y 25-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-13: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-02-13: committee amendment agreed to (House) - 2026-02-13: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-12: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-10: Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-02-05: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 1-N) (House) - 2026-01-16: Assigned sub: Social Services (House) - 2026-01-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB283) (House) - 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House) - 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101372D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218929.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218928.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210647.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210646.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139891.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139890.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1137086.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132530.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131370.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083405.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083404.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/1218929.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218928.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210647.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210646.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139891.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139890.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1137086.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132530.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131370.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083405.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083404.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-HB283-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).