# Virginia SB75: Emergency and temporary detention transportation; alternative transportation providers, etc.

Virginia SB75, Emergency and temporary detention transportation; alternative transportation providers, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by L. Louise Lucas (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0878)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB75-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB75
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Emergency and temporary detention transportation; alternative transportation providers, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-12-19
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0878)
- Sponsor: L. Louise Lucas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (252 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

Emergency and temporary detention transportation. Clarifies that the term "law-enforcement officer" as used in relevant law relating to emergency and involuntary civil transportation includes retired law-enforcement officers, defined in the bill, for the purposes of laws related to emergency custody and involuntary temporary detention. The bill also permits an alternative transportation provider to provide transportation of a person in the temporary detention process in a safe manner if the alternative transportation provider is (i) an employee of, or the person providing services pursuant to a contract with, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or (ii) an employee of a private or state hospital within the confines of the Commonwealth. The bill provides that, for purposes of transporting a minor during the temporary detention process, an alternative transportation provider is deemed available if it states it is available to take custody from law enforcement within six hours of issuance of the temporary detention order or an order changing the transportation provider. The bill also provides the alternative transportation provider shall maintain custody from the time custody is transferred by the primary law-enforcement agency until custody is transferred to the temporary detention facility, including while awaiting transport and during transport. The bill also specifies when a law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider providing transportation of a minor in the temporary detention process may transfer custody of such minor to a facility or location where the minor is awaiting transport. When a bed becomes available at the temporary detention facility, the bill provides that facility or location shall notify the law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider specified on the order, which shall then return to transport the minor to the facility of temporary detention.This bill incorporates SB 395. The provisions of this bill are identical to both HB 681 and HB 976.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Family support during emergency mental health evaluations: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, evaluators and treating providers must let a present family member or guardian stay during emergency-custody evaluations. They can provide support and help with decisions. The person being evaluated can object. Providers can exclude family or guardians for medical, clinical,…
- More transport and waiting options for minors: benefit, low. Magistrates can approve willing, safe alternative providers for detained minors who can take custody within six hours of an order or provider change. Police transfer custody to the provider, which keeps custody through delivery to the detention facility. Police normally serve the minor's home juris…
- Provider payments for emergency mental health screening: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, licensed health care providers receive payments under existing state payment rules for screening and assessment. Covered services are for people with mental illnesses while in emergency custody. The law sets no payment amount and provides no direct cash payment to patients.…
- More transport options during mental health emergencies: benefit, low. Courts and magistrates must approve an identified alternative provider who is available, willing, and able to transport safely. They review information from people familiar with the person's condition and safety needs. Police carry out the emergency custody order, then transfer custody to the appro…
- More transport options for detained patients: benefit, low. Magistrates must approve identified, willing, safe alternative providers who can take custody within six hours of an order or provider change. Providers keep custody through delivery; local police take over if a provider cannot continue. Until July 1, 2026, police also transport when no qualifying…
- Fewer damages claims for transported patients: cost, medium. Patients transported under the covered minor and adult detention processes cannot recover civil damages from alternative providers for ordinary negligence. This protection covers acts or failures to act tied to providing that transportation, not every kind of misconduct. The adult rule lists July 1…
- Safety limits on restraints during patient transport: mixed, medium. Transport workers under state behavioral health contracts can use restraints only after completing state-approved training. Less restrictive methods must have proved ineffective. For minors, restraints must be needed for safety or to maintain custody; the adult rule permits them for safety or preve…
- Longer holds to find suitable care: mixed, low. An evaluator can spend up to four extra hours finding an alternative facility able and willing to provide appropriate care. For the covered state-facility detention process, this can also extend the person's detention by up to four hours.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: L. Louise Lucas (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | House | Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0878) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 878 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB75) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB75) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB75ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-26: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-24: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Committee substitute printed 26108189D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-19: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB75) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-01-28: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Committee substitute printed 26106122D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Read first time (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Incorporates SB395 (Jordan) (Senate)
- 2025-12-19: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2025-12-19: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102169D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223040.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223039.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186645.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186644.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169717.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169713.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169712.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169716.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096434.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096433.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-12-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082129.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082128.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/1223040.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223039.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186645.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186644.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169717.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169713.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169712.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169716.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096434.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096433.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082129.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082128.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-SB75-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).