# Virginia HB766: Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child, family history of abuse.

Virginia HB766, Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child, family history of abuse., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB766-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB766
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child, family history of abuse.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child; expert testimony; history of abuse. Requires a court to consider any history of family abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, or an act of violence, force, or threat in determining best interests of a child for purposes of determining custody or visitation arrangements. Under current law, only such history that occurred no earlier than 10 years prior to the filing of a custody or visitation petition is required to be considered. The bill also requires that any expert evidence from a court-appointed or outside professional relating to any alleged abuse of a child subject to such petition shall only be admitted if such professional possesses demonstrated expertise and clinical experience in working with victims of the type of such abuse alleged that is not solely of a forensic nature. The bill further directs the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to provide mandatory judicial training on trauma-informed practices in proceedings involving domestic violence to magistrates and judges of the juvenile domestic relations district courts, general district courts, circuit courts, and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and court personnel.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-02 | House | Continued to 2025 with substitute in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 with substitute (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Courts of Justice (House)
- 2024-02-02: Continued to 2025 with substitute in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-02: Committee substitute posted to LIS only 24106546D-H1 (House)
- 2024-01-29: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 with substitute (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-29: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered (House)
- 2024-01-25: Assigned Courts sub: Civil (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104699D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2024-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB766)
- Introduced, 2024-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB766)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB766)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB766-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).