SB133 • 2026

Parental prenatal & postnatal substance use; work group to evaluate Commonwealth's response to use.

An Act to direct the Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Department of Health to convene a work group to evaluate the Commonwealth's response to parental prenatal and postnatal substance use, the services available to address such substance use, and the effects of such substance use on newborns and children; report.

Children

Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide details on funding for the work group or specific changes that might result from its recommendations.

Work Group for Parental Substance Use During Pregnancy

This law creates a work group to study how Virginia responds to parents who use drugs during pregnancy or after giving birth and the effects on newborns.

What This Bill Does

Creates a work group with representatives from government agencies, health care providers, community organizations, and impacted families.
The work group will review existing policies and practices regarding parental substance use before and after childbirth.
It will identify gaps in services and data, recommend improvements to meet the needs of families, and ensure child safety.
The work group must submit a report with findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

Parents who use substances during pregnancy or after having a baby
Newborns affected by exposure to drugs before birth

Terms To Know

Work Group: A team of people from different places who work together on a specific task.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the work group will be funded.
It is unclear what specific changes might come from the report's recommendations.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 651 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 651 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0651)
2026-03-10 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-02 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-02 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-02 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-02 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB133ER)
2026-03-02 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB133)
2026-02-26 Senate
House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-24 House
Read third time
2026-02-24 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-24 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-24 House
Passed House with substitute (80-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-02-23 House
Read second time
2026-02-20 Health and Human Services
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB133)
2026-02-19 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (18-Y 3-N)
2026-02-19 House
House committee offered
2026-02-19 Health and Human Services
Committee substitute printed 26108159D-H1
2026-02-10 Rehabilitation and Social Services
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB133)
2026-02-04 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-04 House
Read first time
2026-02-04 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
2026-01-28 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-27 Senate
Read second time
2026-01-27 Rehabilitation and Social Services
Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to
2026-01-27 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-26 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-01-26 Senate
Read first time
2026-01-26 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-01-26 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-01-26 Rehabilitation and Social Services
Committee substitute printed 26105960D-S1
2026-01-26 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-26 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-23 Rehabilitation and Social Services
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
2026-01-23 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-01-06 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102794D
2026-01-06 Rehabilitation and Social Services
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

Official Summary Text

Department of Social Services; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Department of Health; prenatal and postnatal substance use; work group; report.
Directs the Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Department of Health to convene a work group to evaluate the Commonwealth's response to parental prenatal and postnatal substance use, the services available to address such substance use, and the effects of such substance use on newborns and children. The bill requires the work group to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services by December 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 652.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to direct the Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Department of Health to convene a work group to evaluate the Commonwealth's response to parental prenatal and postnatal substance use, the services available to address such substance use, and the effects of such substance use on newborns and children; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. The Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Department of Health shall convene a work group to evaluate the Commonwealth's response to parental prenatal and postnatal substance use, the services available to address such substance use, and the effects of such substance use on newborns and children. Such work group shall (i) review existing statutes, regulations, agency guidance, and current practices regarding the response and provision of services to parents using substances legally and illegally and children born affected by exposure to substances, including the development and use of Plans of Safe Care under the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq.), to determine whether changes in statute, regulation, or guidance are necessary to meet the needs of families, emphasize preservation of the mother-infant dyad, and ensure the safety of children; (ii) identify best practices for government agencies and service providers; (iii) identify service gaps and make recommendations for addressing them; (iv) identify data gaps and make recommendations for addressing them; (v) identify and recommend training policies and opportunities for government agencies and service providers; and (vi) identify inconsistencies in the implementation of toxicology or cord blood testing of a child or pregnant or postpartum woman and make recommendations to address inconsistent testing. Members of the work group shall include (a) representatives from the Department of Social Services; (b) representatives from local departments of social services; (c) representatives from local and state public health agencies; (d) representatives from community service boards and behavioral health authorities, including staff from the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia; (e) one representative from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; (f) private health care providers, including OB/GYNs of whom at least one must be an OB/GYN certified in addiction medicine; (g) pediatricians and physicians board-certified in substance use disorder; (h) researchers that specialize in maternal and child health and substance use harm reduction; (i) hospital emergency department staff; (j) hospital social workers; (k) providers of medication-assisted substance use treatment; (l) doulas and midwives; (m) representatives from private community-based family support organizations; (n) impacted parents; (o) a representative from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; (p) a representative from the Virginia Poverty Law Center; and (q) other relevant stakeholders. The work group shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services by December 1, 2026.