HB 1222 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Social services, local departments of; child abuse and neglect, recorded interviews.

Summary

Local departments of social services; child abuse and neglect; recorded interviews. Requires local departments of social services, unless otherwise demonstrated by good cause shown, to record any child welfare interview, defined in the bill. Under the bill, any person may record any communications between themselves and child-protective services personnel that take place during the course of an investigation or family assessment. Under current law, only a person who is suspected of abuse or neglect of a child and who is the subject of an investigation or family assessment may record such communications.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Vetoed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Governor Substitute → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 3, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as Enrolled legislation, removing the Governor's substitute status and deleting a specific section on human trafficking assessments. The remaining text was modified to require that all child welfare interviews be recorded, changing the previous language that allowed local departments to choose whether to record them.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the standalone section dedicated to human trafficking assessments, while the general child abuse and neglect investigation requirements were expanded to mandate recording for all interviews.

SCOPE

The entire section regarding human trafficking assessments (formerly § 63.2-1506.1) was deleted from the final enrolled version of the bill.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for recording interviews was changed from optional ('may') to mandatory ('shall') for all child welfare interviews, with limited exceptions for good cause.

DEFINITION

A new definition for 'child welfare interview' was added to clarify that it includes documented interviews with all relevant parties, including children and adults.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and header were updated to reflect its final 'Enrolled' status, removing references to the Governor's substitute amendment.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Feb 24, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Vetoed

Governor's recommendation received by House

executive

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1222ER)

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by Senate as amended

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendments agreed to

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Health and Human Services (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

Assigned sub: Social Services

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor