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HB768 • 2026

Custody and visitation arrangements for minor; custody evaluation, report.

An Act to amend and reenact § 20-124.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to custody and visitation arrangements for minor; custody evaluation<em>; report</em>.

Children
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Herring
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
Awaiting Governor's Action
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies the exact reporting dates for the advisory group's activities.

Custody and Visitation Arrangements for Minors; Custody Evaluation Report

This act allows courts to order custody evaluations to help decide on the best living arrangements for children and directs a group to study mental health professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts in family law cases, reporting by November 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows circuit or district courts to order a custody evaluation when deciding on custody or visitation rights for minors.
  • Directs the Board of Psychology, working with the Board of Medicine, to form an advisory group to study mental health professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts in family law cases.
  • Requires the advisory group to report their findings and recommendations by November 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Courts that handle custody or visitation cases for minors
  • Mental health professionals who might serve as court-appointed experts in family law cases

Terms To Know

custody evaluation
A process where a professional assesses the best living situation for a child when parents disagree on custody or visitation rights.
court-appointed expert
A mental health professional chosen by the court to provide an unbiased opinion in family law cases.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if there are no qualified professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts.
  • It is unclear how the advisory group's findings will be used or implemented after their report is submitted.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB768G

2026-04-13 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB768) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

  • (HB768) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
  • Line 85, enrolled, after group strike no later than July 1, 2026, 2.
  • Line 100, enrolled, after shall insert (a) provide a summary of the advisory group's meetings no later than January 15, 2027, and (b) 3.
  • Line 101, enrolled, after recommendations insert no later than November 1, 2027, 4.
HB768AHC1

2026-01-28 • Committee

Civil Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: 1/28/2026 HB 768 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.

  • 1/28/2026 HB 768 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.
  • Line 55, introduced, after evaluation strike in accordance with subsection H of § 16.1-278.15
HB768AH1

2026-02-04 • Committee

Courts of Justice Amendment

Plain English: 2/04/2026 HB 768 COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.

  • 2/04/2026 HB 768 COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.
  • Line 55, introduced, after evaluation strike in accordance with subsection H of § 16.1-278.15
HB768ASC1

2026-03-05 • Committee

Courts of Justice Amendment

Plain English: OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/05/2026 HB 768 COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.

  • OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/05/2026 HB 768 COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.
  • Line 4, engrossed, Title, after evaluation insert ; report COURTS OF JUSTICE 2.
  • After line 87, engrossed insert 2.
  • That the Board of Psychology (the Board), in consultation with the Board of Medicine, shall convene a stakeholder advisory group no later than July 1, 2026, to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the availability of qualified mental health professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts in family law proceedings, including in custody evaluations.
HB768AS1

2026-03-09 • Committee

Courts of Justice Amendment

Plain English: 3/09/2026 (HB768) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.

  • 3/09/2026 (HB768) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.
  • Line 4, engrossed, Title, after evaluation insert ; report COURTS OF JUSTICE 2.
  • After line 87, engrossed insert 2.
  • That the Board of Psychology (the Board), in consultation with the Board of Medicine, shall convene a stakeholder advisory group no later than July 1, 2026, to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the availability of qualified mental health professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts in family law proceedings, including in custody evaluations.
HB768EDOC

2026-03-10 • Senate

Senate Amendments

Plain English: 3/10/2026 (HB768) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.

  • 3/10/2026 (HB768) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.
  • Line 4, engrossed, Title, after evaluation insert ; report COURTS OF JUSTICE 2.
  • After line 87, engrossed insert 2.
  • That the Board of Psychology (the Board), in consultation with the Board of Medicine, shall convene a stakeholder advisory group no later than July 1, 2026, to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the availability of qualified mental health professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts in family law proceedings, including in custody evaluations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 House

    Passed by for the day

  2. 2026-04-22 House

    Communicated to Governor

  3. 2026-04-22 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  4. 2026-04-22 House

    Passed by for the day

  5. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by House

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  7. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  9. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  10. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  11. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  12. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  13. 2026-03-31 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB768)

  14. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  15. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  16. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB768ER)

  17. 2026-03-11 House

    Senate amendments agreed to by House (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  19. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  20. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  21. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  22. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  23. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. 2026-03-10 Courts of Justice

    Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

  25. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate with substitute with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  26. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Rules suspended

  27. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  28. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  29. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  30. 2026-03-05 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (14-Y 0-N)

  31. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  32. 2026-02-17 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB768)

  33. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  34. 2026-02-11 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  35. 2026-02-10 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

  36. 2026-02-09 House

    Read second time

  37. 2026-02-09 House

    committee amendment agreed to

  38. 2026-02-09 House

    Engrossed by House as amended

  39. 2026-02-09 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB768)

  40. 2026-02-06 House

    Read first time

  41. 2026-02-04 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

  42. 2026-01-28 Civil

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)

  43. 2026-01-26 Civil

    Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

  44. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103527D

  45. 2026-01-13 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Custody and visitation arrangements for minor; custody evaluation; report.
Provides that a circuit or district court may order a custody evaluation to assist with determining the custody or visitation arrangements for a minor. Current law provides that such custody evaluations can be ordered in a proceeding for custody or visitation before a juvenile and domestic relations district court. The bill also directs the Board of Psychology, in consultation with the Board of Medicine, to convene a stakeholder advisory group to study the availability of qualified mental health professionals willing to serve as court-appointed experts in family law proceedings and to report its findings and any recommendations to the Chairs of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice and House Committee on Health and Human Services no later than November 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
(HB768)
GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION
1. Line 85, enrolled, after
group
strike
no later than July 1, 2026,
2. Line 100, enrolled, after
shall
insert
(a) provide a summary of the advisory group's meetings no later than January 15, 2027, and (b)
3. Line 101, enrolled, after
recommendations
insert
no later than November 1, 2027,
4. Line 102, enrolled, after
Services
strike
no later than November 1, 2026