VirginiaSB6402026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Child abuse or neglect; centralized hotline for reports or complaints, etc.

Sponsored By: Todd E. Pillion (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Department of Social Services; corrective action plans; centralized hotline for reports or complaints of child abuse or neglect. Establishes a centralized hotline for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and grants the Commissioner of Social Services the authority to create and enforce a corrective action plan for any local board of social services or local department of social services that (i) fails to administer public assistance and social services programs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations or (ii) takes any action or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child or adult. The bill permits similar authority for any local board of social services that (a) fails to provide child welfare services in accordance with applicable law or regulations or (b) takes any action or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child. Under the bill, if a local board or department fails to comply with a corrective action plan, the Commissioner has the authority to temporarily assume control of all or part of the local board's operations. The bill also provides that, when a local board of social services or local department of social services requests assistance, the Commissioner has the authority to utilize staff of the Department of Social Services or contract with private entities to provide public assistance and social services programs in the locality served by the local board or department. The bill requires the Department of Social Services to establish and maintain a hotline for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and specifies that the Department shall determine the validity of such reports and complaints. The bill eliminates the requirement that local departments must be capable of receiving and responding to reports and complaints of abuse or neglect and instead requires that any complaint of child abuse or neglect received by a local department shall be immediately forwarded to the Department's child abuse and neglect hotline. The bill also adds adult services to the definition of "social services" for purposes of Title 63.2 (Welfare (Social Services)). The bill directs the Department of Social Services to (1) promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and (2) contract with a third party by August 1, 2026, to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the screening process used for child protective services complaints across Virginia. The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a Social Services Task Force to develop a comprehensive improvement plan to address changes needed within the State Department of Social Services and the local departments of social services. The provisions of the bill related to centralized intake have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Faster child-abuse response and central hotline

Starting July 1, 2027, the state runs a 24/7 hotline to take all child-abuse reports and log them. The Department reviews each report, decides if it is valid, and sends it to the right local office. Local offices must respond within 24 hours when a valid report involves a child under age two. The Department must decide validity for reports about children under age three and for children under 18 with disabilities. If a report is found invalid but shows serious harm or crime, the Department must alert the local prosecutor and police within two hours.

Studies to improve screening and benefits

The Department must hire an outside group to review CPS screening statewide and report by December 1, 2026. The study must show locality‑level screen‑out and other data and propose best practices with a stakeholder work group. A Social Services Task Force must also plan improvements to eligibility and benefit administration, including putting applications on CommonHelp, with a report due November 1, 2026.

Stronger duties for mandated reporters

Beginning July 1, 2027, doctors, teachers, child-care staff, social workers, police, and other listed roles must report suspected child abuse right away. You may call first, but you must put the report in writing and cooperate. Failing to report within 24 hours can bring a fine up to $500 the first time and at least $1,000 after that. Knowingly failing to report rape-like offenses is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Good‑faith reporters are immune from civil or criminal liability. “Reason to suspect” includes infant substance exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum diagnoses.

State oversight and public child-safety data

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Department runs the Virginia Child Protection Accountability System and publishes yearly data online and in print. The Board must issue rules to carry out the reforms and set up centralized intake by July 1, 2027. The Commissioner may require corrective plans, take temporary control of local operations, provide staff support, and withhold state funds until problems are fixed. Intake shifts to a single statewide system from July 1, 2028 to July 1, 2030. An older child‑protection statute is repealed on July 1, 2027.

Independent investigations when staff accused

Starting July 1, 2027, if a local social‑services employee is accused of abuse, the report must go to the state hotline. If the complaint is valid, a judge assigns an independent local department to investigate. If none is reasonably impartial, the court service unit handles it.

Stronger privacy on state websites

Starting July 1, 2027, government websites must post clear privacy policies. Agencies must limit personal data they collect and share, set access rules, and keep access logs for three years. They may not collect political or religious beliefs unless a law allows it. The first five digits of Social Security numbers in public records are kept confidential, with narrow exceptions.

Broader sharing of CPS records

Starting July 1, 2027, a local department may share child‑protective services records without a court order or family consent when it judges sharing is in the child’s best interest. The law lists who can have a legitimate interest and presumes those disclosures are lawful.

Targeted data sharing across agencies

Starting July 1, 2027, Social Services may share client data with the Tax Department for specific, defined tax purposes. The higher‑education council may share student information to obtain out‑of‑state or federal wage data to meet reporting rules. The state retirement system may share an employee’s retirement status or benefit eligibility with agency executives and personnel officers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Todd E. Pillion

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 518 • No: 41

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 40

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/24/2026

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

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 14 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote 1/30/2026

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

Yes: 13 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0900)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 900 (Effective - see bill)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)

    4/7/2026Senate
  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)

    4/6/2026Senate
  5. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

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

    3/31/2026Senate
  7. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  8. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB640ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  11. Conference report agreed to by House (92-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026House
  12. Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  13. Conference Report released

    3/13/2026
  14. House Conferees: Tran, Callsen, Kent

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

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

    3/9/2026Senate
  17. Senate Conferees: Pillion, VanValkenburg, Favola

    3/9/2026Senate
  18. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/9/2026Senate
  19. House requested conference committee

    3/5/2026House
  20. House insisted on substitute

    3/5/2026House
  21. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)

    3/4/2026Senate
  23. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  24. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    3/2/2026House
  25. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House

Bill Text

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