# Virginia SB640: Child abuse or neglect; centralized hotline for reports or complaints, etc.

Virginia SB640, Child abuse or neglect; centralized hotline for reports or complaints, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Todd E. Pillion (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0900)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB640-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB640
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Child abuse or neglect; centralized hotline for reports or complaints, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0900)
- Sponsor: Todd E. Pillion (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 15 (518 yes, 41 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## 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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Some family placements avoid foster-home classification: benefit, low. The law excludes specified power-of-attorney placements from foster-home definitions. For the foster-home exclusion, an individual guardian designated under Virginia's power-of-attorney law must exercise legal authority without pay. That authority must continue for at least 24 hours. The independen…
- Faster abuse response for young children: benefit, low. The State Board must require local departments to respond within 24 hours to valid abuse complaints involving children under three. It must also require state reviews deciding whether complaints involving children under three are valid. That review requirement also covers children under 18 with a d…
- Independent handling for social-services employee complaints: benefit, low. Abuse complaints involving a local social-services employee must go to the state toll-free hotline. If the state finds the complaint valid, it sends the complaint to the court where the abuse occurred or child lives. A judge assigns it to a different local department. If no department within a reas…
- State can fix failing child-welfare services: benefit, low. The Commissioner can require corrective plans when local child-welfare services violate requirements or create substantial risk to a child. Written notice is required, with a hearing if a notified board chair or local director requests one. Plan objectives generally must be completed within 90 days…
- State hotline routes child abuse reports: benefit, low. Virginia's social services department must run a toll-free child abuse hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It records and reviews reports, immediately routes valid complaints, and requires local departments to immediately forward complaints they receive. Serious cases include child deaths, s…
- Required reporters face hotline deadlines and fines: cost, medium. Required reporters must contact the state hotline immediately after having reason to suspect child abuse or neglect. The outside deadline is 24 hours. They can skip reporting only when they actually know the same matter was already reported to the hotline. Failure to report carries fines up to $500…
- Some child complaint protections are removed: cost, low. The law removes the express immunity reference for people making complaints under Virginia Code § 63.2-1510. That complaint section is repealed beginning July 1, 2027. Existing immunity remains for specified reports, taking a child into custody, and related court participation, except for bad faith…
- School abuse cases lose specialized requirements: cost, low. The law removes specialized training and staffing duties for abuse investigations involving public school-board employees. These duties required state staff to help with and monitor those investigations. It also removes a requirement for local departments, the state department, and the school board…
- Rules shape which children receive investigations: mixed, low. The state decides whether a complaint warrants an investigation, family assessment, or human-trafficking assessment. Generally, the child must be under 18 when reported, and the alleged abuser must be a parent or caretaker. For specified abuse, that person's intimate partner also qualifies; the abu…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Todd E. Pillion (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 92 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 1 | 1 |

## Actions (53)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0900) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 900 (Effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-04-07: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640) (Senate)
- 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB640ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by House (92-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-11: House Conferees: Tran, Callsen, Kent (House)
- 2026-03-11: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-09: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Senate Conferees: Pillion, VanValkenburg, Favola (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-05: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-03-04: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-02: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-02: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-27: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Committee substitute printed 26108457D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human Resources (House)
- 2026-02-19: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House)
- 2026-02-19: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Committee substitute printed 26107316D-S2 (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Committee substitute printed 26106711D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 1-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104930D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223140.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223139.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213833.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213832.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210016.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210013.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210012.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178049.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178048.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139528.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139527.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103793.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104896.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103792.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104895.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091608.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091607.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/1223140.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223139.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213833.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213832.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210016.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210013.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210012.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178049.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178048.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139528.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139527.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103793.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104896.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103792.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104895.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091608.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091607.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-SB640-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).