VirginiaSB2702026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Recovery residences; regulations.

Sponsored By: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (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 HB 931.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Stronger rights and safety in recovery homes

The law protects residents from being forced into medical or therapy services that pay the home, to move in or stay. Homes must tell each applicant who accredits them; NARR homes must state their level of support, and Oxford Houses must say they are self‑governed and unstaffed. To be state‑certified, homes must meet the larger bedroom and bed size rule set by either their accreditors or §36-105.4. Certified homes must report any death or serious injury to the Department. It is illegal to claim state certification when not certified; that is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Study on treatment providers that house clients

The Department and the Virginia Housing Commission must study licensed clinical substance‑use providers that offer housing but are not certified as recovery residences. They must recommend regulations and report to the chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committees on Rehabilitation and Social Services and Education and Health by November 1, 2026.

More public data on recovery homes

Beginning January 1, 2027, the Board sets rules to expand what certified and conditionally certified homes must report and what the public can see. Public info can include certification status, accreditor, recovery model, last inspection date and result, incidents in the past year, audit summaries, residents served and demographics, and indigent‑bed use. The Department will map current data, choose outcome measures tied to best practices, survey operators on data capacity, and define how operators and credentialers submit data.

Recovery homes oversight group through 2031

The Secretary convenes a standing work group to plan statewide oversight and make certification more transparent. Guidelines must cover uniform certification, indigent‑bed fees and reimbursement, resident choice, and training for operators and house managers. They must also set a Residents' Bill of Rights, fair termination steps, uniform data with a public platform, and a complaint hotline. Investigations are run by the Department or with localities, not credentialers; sanctions can include decertification; and the group coordinates local safety inspections. Members include state recovery staff, Oxford House, addiction and recovery groups, local governments, community members, and certified operators; it meets at least twice a year and reports annually to the General Assembly, with a report due by November 1, 2026. These provisions end July 1, 2031.

New certification rules for operators

To get Department certification, Board rules can require accreditation or membership in a credentialing body. The Department may issue a conditional certification for up to six months if you plan to get accredited and may extend it once for up to three more months. The total conditional period cannot exceed nine straight months and can be revoked for serious health or safety concerns.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 535 • No: 74

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 97 • 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 3/6/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 40

House vote 2/27/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote 2/24/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute rejected

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/6/2026

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

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  2. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1000)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (SB270ER2)

    4/22/2026Senate
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026Senate
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1000 (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 Senate

    4/11/2026Governor
  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB270)

    3/31/2026Senate
  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

    3/31/2026Senate
  14. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  15. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB270ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  16. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  17. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB270)

    3/16/2026Senate
  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.

    3/11/2026House
  23. Conferees appointed by House

    3/11/2026House
  24. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  25. Senate Conferees: VanValkenburg, Favola, Reeves

    3/6/2026Senate

Bill Text

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