# Virginia HB531: Abortion; born alive infant, treatment and care, penalty.

Virginia HB531, Abortion; born alive infant, treatment and care, penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Karen Hamilton (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-02-03 (Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 3-N)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB531-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB531
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Abortion; born alive infant, treatment and care, penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-02-03, Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 3-N)
- Sponsor: Karen Hamilton (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Health and Human Services
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (7 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Abortion; born alive infant; treatment and care; penalty. Requires every health care provider licensed by the Board of Medicine who attempts to terminate a pregnancy to (i) exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of a human infant who has been born alive following such attempt as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age and (ii) take all reasonable steps to ensure the immediate transfer of the human infant who has been born alive to a hospital for further medical care. A health care provider who fails to comply with the requirements of the bill is guilty of a Class 4 felony and may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board. The bill also requires every hospital licensed by the Department of Health to establish a protocol for the treatment and care of a human infant who has been born alive following an attempt to terminate a pregnancy and for the immediate reporting to law enforcement of any failure to provide such required treatment and care.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karen Hamilton (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (5)

- 2026-02-03: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-21: Assigned sub: Health (House)
- 2026-01-13: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/13/2026 1:17 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102672D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084838.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084837.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084838.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084837.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB531-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).