HB465 • 2026

Behavior Analysis, Advisory Board on; amends composition.

An Act to amend and reenact § 54.1-2957.18 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis; composition.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Cohen
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide information on how the additional member will be chosen, only that there is an increase in the number of required members who meet certain qualifications.

Changes to Behavior Analysis Advisory Board Members

This act changes the composition of the Virginia Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis by requiring three members to be licensed behavior analysts or assistant behavior analysts with at least three years of practice.

What This Bill Does

Requires that three members shall be licensed behavior analysts or licensed assistant behavior analysts who have practiced for at least three years.

Who It Names or Affects

The Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis in Virginia
Licensed behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts

Terms To Know

Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis: A group appointed by the Governor to assist with licensing and regulation of behavior analysts.
Behavior Analysts: Professionals who analyze human behavior for improvement or treatment.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact date this act will take effect is not specified.
It does not specify how the additional member will be chosen.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 618 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 618 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0618)
2026-03-10 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-05 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-05 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-05 House
Enrolled
2026-03-05 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB465ER)
2026-03-05 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB465)
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-27 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-26 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-20 Health Professions
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
2026-02-10 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-10 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-09 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-06 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-05 House
Read first time
2026-02-03 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services (22-Y 0-N)
2026-01-29 Health Professions
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
2026-01-21 Health Professions
Assigned sub: Health Professions
2026-01-16 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB465)
2026-01-12 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101636D
2026-01-12 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis; composition.
Amends the composition of the Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis to require that three members shall be licensed behavior analysts or licensed assistant behavior analysts who have practiced for at least three years. Under current law, the composition of the Advisory Board requires two licensed behavior analysts who have practiced for at least three years and one licensed assistant behavior analyst who has practiced for at least three years.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
54.1-2957.18
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis; composition.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
54.1-2957.18
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
54.1-2957.18
. Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis.
A. The Advisory Board on Behavior Analysis (Advisory Board) shall assist the Board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter regarding the qualifications, examination, and regulation of licensed behavior analysts and licensed assistant behavior analysts.
B. The Advisory Board shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor for four-year terms as follows:
two
three
members shall be, at the time of appointment, licensed behavior analysts
or licensed assistant behavior analysts
who have practiced for at least three years;
one member shall be, at the time of appointment, a licensed assistant behavior analyst who has practiced for not less than three years;
one member shall be a physician licensed by the Board who is familiar with the principles of behavior analysis; and one member shall be a consumer of applied behavior analysis who does not hold a license as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst who is appointed by the Governor from the Commonwealth at large. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired term.
C. The Advisory Board shall, under the authority of the Board, recommend to the Board for its enactment into regulation the criteria for licensure as a behavior analyst or an assistant behavior analyst and the standards of professional conduct for holders of such licenses.
The Advisory Board shall also assist in such other matters relating to behavior analysis as the Board in its discretion may direct.