VirginiaHB9312026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Recovery residences; regulations.

Sponsored By: Marcus B. Simon (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Recovery residences; regulations. Establishes certain requirements for recovery residences and directs the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Board) to promulgate regulations to establish minimum certification standards for recovery residences. The bill also requires that the regulations promulgated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) related to the certification of recovery residences include provisions that no recovery residence, or operator, employee, or agent of a recovery residence, may require a resident to participate in medical or psychological services, including clinical substance use treatment, that such recovery residence receives financial benefit from, either directly or indirectly, as a condition of entering or continuing residence at such recovery residence. The bill requires the Department to monitor credentialing agencies providing credentials to recovery residences to ensure criteria related to certification comply with regulations and specifies that no such credentialing agency shall provide credentials to a recovery residence that is owned or operated by an individual who is employed by or in a position of authority at such credentialing agency, or an immediate family member of any such individual. The bill also requires that referrals to recovery residences made by the Department, any agency of the Commonwealth, or by a court may only be made to recovery residences that are certified. This bill is identical to SB 270.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New rules for certified recovery homes

The law requires recovery homes to be certified by the Department to claim they are certified and to receive public referrals. State agencies and courts may refer people only to Department‑certified homes. Certification rules can require accreditation or membership, and homes must meet the larger bed and room size standard (their accreditor’s or § 36‑105.4). Certified homes must report any death or serious injury to the Department. The Department may grant conditional certification for up to 6 months, extend by up to 3 months (max 9 months), and revoke it for serious health and safety concerns. Operators renew certification every two years, filing 90 days before it expires; they can apply alone or through a credentialing group that shares application materials and inspection reports. The Department monitors credentialing groups, bars conflicts of interest, and can issue warnings, probation, suspend indigent bed funding or admissions, and decertify. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor to claim certification without it.

Public lists and data for recovery homes

When you apply, a recovery home must tell you who credentials it. NARR homes must state their level of support, and Oxford House homes must say they are self‑governed and unstaffed. The Department posts online lists of conditionally certified and fully certified homes with these details. Beginning January 1, 2027, the Department expands what data homes report and what it shares publicly, such as inspection dates and outcomes, incidents, audit summaries, residents served, and indigent bed use.

Work group to improve recovery oversight

The Department and the Virginia Housing Commission study rules for licensed treatment providers that offer housing but are not recovery homes and report recommendations by November 1, 2026. The Secretary convenes a stakeholder work group to design statewide oversight, training, a Residents’ Bill of Rights, sanctions, uniform data and a public platform, and a complaints hotline with Department‑led investigations. The group meets at least twice each year, reports to the General Assembly by November 1 each year, and ends July 1, 2031.

Stronger rights and rules for residents

A recovery home cannot make you use medical or psychological services that make the home money to get in or stay. Residents can file complaints directly with the Department, and the Department must respond on set timelines. Credentialing groups must report sanctions, and there is a standard grievance path with referrals to authorities when needed. Homes and credentialing groups cannot use nondisclosure agreements that block complaint reporting allowed under federal rules. Certified homes must forbid residents from possessing or using marijuana, following national best practices for the home’s support level.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marcus B. Simon

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 544 • No: 129

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 24 • No: 15

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 23 • No: 16

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote 3/10/2026

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 2 • No: 97

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute rejected

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (24-Y 15-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1079)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (HB931ER2)

    4/22/2026House
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026House
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1079 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/22/2026Governor
  7. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  9. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  10. Governor's recommendation received by House

    4/11/2026Governor
  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB931)

    3/31/2026House
  12. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  13. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  14. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  15. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB931ER)

    3/30/2026House
  16. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  17. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB931)

    3/16/2026House
  19. Conference report agreed to by House (94-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  20. Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  21. Conference Report released

    3/12/2026
  22. House Conferees: Simon, Willett, Scott, P.A.

    3/12/2026House
  23. Conferees appointed by House

    3/12/2026House
  24. House acceded to request

    3/12/2026House
  25. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/12/2026Senate

Bill Text

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