VirginiaHB5132026 Regular SessionHouse

Suicide fatality review teams, local and regional; established, membership, penalty.

Sponsored By: Marty Martinez (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Local and regional suicide fatality review teams; penalty. Permits localities or combinations of localities to establish a local or regional suicide fatality review team. The bill provides exemptions from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act for information and records obtained or created regarding a review of a fatality by such team.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Local suicide review teams created

The law allows any county or city to create a local or regional suicide fatality review team. Teams review deaths of Virginia residents that are suicides or suspected suicides, including service members and veterans. Each team sets written rules and procedures and may use a model from the Chief Medical Examiner. Required members include the medical examiner, health and social services, law enforcement, a prosecutor, a judge, schools, a jail or detention representative, and veterans services. The chair is elected and may add other local experts. Reviews pause during any related criminal investigation unless the Commonwealth consents.

Strong privacy for suicide reviews

Information and records used for these reviews are confidential and exempt from FOIA. Teams close parts of meetings that discuss individual cases. Members, attendees, and agencies that share records must sign sworn confidentiality statements. Breaking confidentiality is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Materials provided only for the review cannot be subpoenaed or used as evidence, and participants cannot be forced to reveal review statements. After a review, victim and family records are returned or destroyed. Teams may publish only non‑identifying statistics. People who take part or provide information have civil immunity, except for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marty Martinez

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 312 • No: 2

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology

Yes: 14 • No: 1

Senate vote 2/19/2026

Rereferred from Education and Health to General Laws and Technology

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/9/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/3/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0158)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 158 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  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 (HB513)

    3/6/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB513ER)

    3/6/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/6/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/6/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/6/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  11. Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  12. Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  13. Read third time

    3/2/2026Senate
  14. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/27/2026Senate
  15. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  16. Rules suspended

    2/27/2026Senate
  17. Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 1-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB513)

    2/20/2026House
  19. Rereferred from Education and Health to General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N)

    2/19/2026Senate
  20. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    2/10/2026Senate
  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/10/2026Senate
  22. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/9/2026House
  23. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/6/2026House
  24. committee substitute agreed to

    2/6/2026House
  25. Read second time

    2/6/2026House

Bill Text

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