Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

HB283 Child abuse or neglect; prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed.

Direction

Abortion otherAI label

Expands abortion access model confidence 80%

Excludes prenatal use of a prescribed controlled substance for opioid addiction recovery from being sole grounds to suspect child abuse or neglect, so less reporting and investigation of such cases.

However, a pregnant woman's prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed by such woman's health care provider for opioid addiction recovery shall not solely be a reason to suspect that a child is abused or neglected.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0585)
Filed: 2026-01-09
Sponsor: Debra Gardner D + 9 cosponsors (9 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill amends child abuse/neglect reporting requirements to add specific substance-exposure criteria for infants but carves out an exception for prescribed use in opioid addiction recovery during pregnancy; this is an abortion-related provision on maternal substance use and prenatal care, with no provisions on firearms, transgender issues, or immigration enforcement.

Related bills

SB845 Pregnant & postpartum inmates; reporting requirements of state, regional, & local correctional fac.No change to abortion access Restricts immigration enforcement Committee
HB1398 Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Team; established, definitions, penalty, report.Expands abortion access Passed one chamber
HB328 Health insurance; essential health benefits benchmark plan selection.Expands abortion access Expands abortion access Law
HB1182 Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs & devices, including over-the-counter.Restricts abortion access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-02-05 16:00 · Hearing · House Health and Human Services: Social Services Hearing House Committee Room C - 206
2026-02-10 08:30 · Hearing · House Health and Human Services Hearing House Committee Room C - 206
2026-02-26 08:30 · Hearing · Senate Education and Health Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-03-06 08:00 · Hearing · Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-02-05	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 1-N)	7-1	Passed
2026-02-10	H	Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N)	20-2	Passed
2026-02-16	H	Read third time and passed House (73-Y 25-N 0-A)	73-25	Passed
2026-02-26	S	Rereferred from Education and Health to Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 0-N)	13-0	Passed
2026-03-06	S	Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (11-Y 4-N)	11-4	Passed
2026-03-09	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-03-10	S	Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-09
Engrossed 2026-02-13
Enrolled 2026-03-30
Chaptered 2026-04-13

History (31 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-13		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0585)
2026-04-13		Approved by Governor-Chapter 585 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-31		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31	H	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB283)
2026-03-30	S	Signed by President
2026-03-30	H	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB283ER)
2026-03-30	H	Enrolled
2026-03-10	S	Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-10	S	Read third time
2026-03-09	S	Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-09	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-09	S	Rules suspended
2026-03-06	S	Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (11-Y 4-N)
2026-02-26	S	Rereferred from Education and Health to Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 0-N)
2026-02-17	S	Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-17	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-17	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB283)
2026-02-16	H	Read third time and passed House (73-Y 25-N 0-A)
2026-02-13	H	Engrossed by House as amended
2026-02-13	H	committee amendment agreed to
2026-02-13	H	Read second time
2026-02-12	H	Read first time
2026-02-10	H	Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N)
2026-02-05	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 1-N)
2026-02-05	H	House subcommittee offered
2026-01-16	H	Assigned sub: Social Services
2026-01-13	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB283)
2026-01-09	H	Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
2026-01-09	H	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101372D