# Virginia HB859: Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Virginia HB859, Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Wren M. Williams (Republican); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Public Safety) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB859-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB859
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Public Safety
- Sponsor: Wren M. Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Public Safety
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Authorizes the Department of Criminal Justice Services to register and issue licenses for human trafficking investigators. The bill provides that a human trafficking investigator is a private investigator who is GSA compliant and engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and in the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Wren M. Williams (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-09 | House | Continued to 2025 in Public Safety (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-23 | House | Referred from General Laws (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-23 | House | Referred to Committee on Public Safety (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Public Safety (House)
- 2024-02-09: Continued to 2025 in Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-08: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-05: Assigned PS sub: Public Safety (House)
- 2024-01-26: Impact statement from DPB (HB859) (House)
- 2024-01-23: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-23: Referred from General Laws (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103810D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB859)

## 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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB859)

## 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-HB859-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).