SB 248 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Restaurants; food allergy awareness notice required.

Summary

Restaurants; food allergy awareness notice required. Requires the State Health Commissioner to publish in multiple languages a notice on the Department of Health's website containing procedures for restaurant staff to follow when a customer has a food allergy. The bill requires restaurants to post such notice in a conspicuous location. The bill also requires restaurants to include the phrase, "If you have a food allergy, please notify us," and its translation, if applicable, on their menus or on a sign posted conspicuously in the restaurant. This bill is identical to HB 373.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 125 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive policy text regarding food allergy notices for restaurants remained identical, but the formatting was updated to reflect official chaptered status, including the approval date and session details.

Scope change

None; the bill's scope and applicability to restaurants in Virginia remained unchanged.

TECHNICAL

The document structure was updated from an enrolled draft to a formal chaptered act, adding the official chapter number (125), approval date (April 6, 2026), and session title, while removing draft headers.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 30, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 39

Jan 30, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

17 Yea 2

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 125 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB248ER)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

House amendments agreed to by Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with amendments (65-Y 32-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 15-N 0-A)

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Education and Health (10-Y 5-N)

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Health

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Committee

Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor