HB1282Introduced in the House of Delegates
Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners; licensure by endorsement, etc.
Introduced by Joshua Cole, District 28
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners; licensure by endorsement; licensure without examination. Directs the Board of Counseling to establish a pathway to licensure by endorsement as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner for applicants who have held certification as a certified substance abuse counselor for at least 10 years without a history of disciplinary action, have completed at least five years of documented supervised experience, hold at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of counseling, and hold a Master Addiction Counselor credential issued by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. The bill provides that such pathway to licensure by endorsement does not require examination.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0766)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 9, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Presented and ordered printed 26104275D
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
Assigned sub: Health Professions
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1282)
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Read second time
committee amendment agreed to
Engrossed by House as amended
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1282)
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1282ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1282)
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 766 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0766)
Verify the information
- Official page on the Virginia Legislature website
- Health Professions Subcommittee Amendment (amendment)
- Health and Human Services Amendment (amendment)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Introduced (text)
- Engrossed (text)
- Enrolled (text)
- Chaptered (text)
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