VirginiaHB6322026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver, report.

Sponsored By: Katrina Callsen (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver; report. Establishes a process by which a local department of social services may apply for a barrier crime waiver on behalf of an individual who has been convicted of a Virginia barrier crime that (i) is not (a) included on the list of federal barrier crimes; (b) a violent felony offense; or (c) an offense requiring registration under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act and (ii) does not otherwise fall under a barrier crime exception for foster or adoptive homes for the purpose of approval of the individual's home as a kinship foster home. The bill creates a process by which such a local department of social services may apply to the Department of Social Services for a waiver and for the Department to conduct an assessment of such application. The bill also requires the Department of Social Services to file an annual report by December 1 of each year detailing the specifics of the waiver process to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services. This bill is identical to SB 305.

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

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Waivers for kinship foster caregivers with past convictions

The law bars kinship foster approval when a background check shows a barrier crime, unless a listed exception applies. For some convictions, the local department can ask the state for a waiver; not for federal barrier crimes, violent felonies, or sex‑offender registry offenses. Before asking, the local office must review eight factors, the person’s ability to care for children, and the child’s permanency goals. If it finds no safety concerns and placement is in the child’s best interest, it must file the waiver request with its assessment. The Department of Social Services reviews the request and sends a written approval or denial. If your home is denied for a barrier crime, the notice includes how to seek a waiver. The Department also issues rules to run this process.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Katrina Callsen

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 410 • No: 1

House vote 2/26/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 96 • No: 1

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/16/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/16/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/5/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0647)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 647 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  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 (HB632)

    3/3/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB632ER)

    3/3/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/3/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/3/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/3/2026House
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (96-Y 1-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

    2/24/2026Senate
  12. Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to

    2/24/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    2/24/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    2/24/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/23/2026Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    2/23/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB632)

    2/20/2026House
  19. Committee substitute printed 26108308D-S1

    2/20/2026Senate
  20. Senate committee offered

    2/20/2026Senate
  21. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

    2/20/2026Senate
  22. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

    2/17/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/17/2026Senate
  24. Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026House
  25. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    2/16/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation