# Virginia HB942: Custody and visitation of a child; possession or consumption of authorized substances.

Virginia HB942, Custody and visitation of a child; possession or consumption of authorized substances., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0711)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB942-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB942
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Custody and visitation of a child; possession or consumption of authorized substances.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0711)
- Sponsor: Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (214 yes, 103 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Custody and visitation; possession or consumption of authorized substances. Provides that no person shall be denied custody or visitation of a child, based only on the fact that the child's parent or other person responsible for his care, or the person petitioning for custody or visitation of the child, possessed or consumed legally authorized substances. The bill directs the Board of Social Services to amend its regulations, guidance documents, and other instructional materials to ensure that such regulations, documents, and materials comply with, and that investigations and family assessments are conducted by local departments of social services in accordance with, the provisions of the bill.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More people can seek custody: benefit, medium. Courts can award custody or visitation to anyone with a legitimate interest, including grandparents, stepparents, former stepparents, and other relatives. A parent whose rights were terminated may petition only if strict conditions are met: the child is at least 14, adoption was the prior goal, the…
- Child support extended and disability support: mixed, medium. If child support is ordered, it continues for a child over 18 who is a full‑time high‑school student, not self‑supporting, and living with the parent. It lasts until age 19 or high‑school graduation, whichever comes first. The court can also order support for an adult child with a severe, permanent…
- Required parenting class with $50 cap: mixed, low. In contested custody, visitation, or support cases, you must attend a court‑approved parenting class. Attend within 12 months before court or within 45 days after the court orders it. The class lasts at least four hours and covers children’s needs, parenting duties, conflict resolution, and money r…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 34 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 22 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 36 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 5 | 3 |   |

## Actions (35)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0711) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 711 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB942) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB942ER) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB942) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Committee substitute printed 26108970D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 6-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB942) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB942) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee amendment agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-28: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101866D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222331.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222330.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203436.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203435.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190450.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190449.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131975.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131974.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127439.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100182.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100185.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086593.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086592.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222331.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222330.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203436.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203435.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190450.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190449.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131975.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131974.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127439.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100182.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100185.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086593.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086592.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB942-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).