# Virginia SB1039: DOC and State Board of Local and Regional Jails; policies on inmate participation in telehealth. Virginia SB1039, DOC and State Board of Local and Regional Jails; policies on inmate participation in telehealth., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0427)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1039-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB1039 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: DOC and State Board of Local and Regional Jails; policies on inmate participation in telehealth. - Status: to governor - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-07 - Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0427) - Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 7 (236 yes, 21 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Department of Corrections; State Board of Local and Regional Jails; policies on inmate participation in telehealth. Requires the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to develop and implement policies for the accommodation in local, regional, state, and community correctional facilities of inmate participation in telehealth appointments, which shall include designating a private space for such telehealth appointments to occur. The bill requires the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to provide an update to the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2025, on (i) the status of the policies for the accommodation of inmate participation in telehealth appointments required to be developed and implemented pursuant to the provisions of this act; (ii) opportunities to expand telehealth programs in local, regional, state, and community correctional facilities; and (iii) recommended strategies to reduce gaps in or barriers to telehealth service delivery in such correctional facilities. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-19 | House | Passed House | pass | 81 | 15 | | | 2025-02-14 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 16 | 5 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 2025-02-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-01-31 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services | pass | 15 | 0 | | ## Actions (29) - 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0427) (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 427 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1039) (Senate) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1039ER) (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-19: Passed House (81-Y 15-N) (House) - 2025-02-19: Read third time (House) - 2025-02-18: Read second time (House) - 2025-02-14: Reported from Public Safety (16-Y 5-N) (House) - 2025-02-13: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 1-N) (House) - 2025-02-11: Assigned PS sub: Public Safety (House) - 2025-02-07: Read first time (House) - 2025-02-07: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2025-02-07: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2025-02-04: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Read second time and engrossed (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1039) (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate) - 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102215D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074341.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074340.PDF) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062256.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062255.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017613.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017612.PDF) ## 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 - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074341.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074340.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062256.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1062255.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017613.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017612.PDF) ## 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) - [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-SB1039-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).