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SB305Introduced in the Senate

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver, report.

Passed

Introduced by Stella Pekarsky, District 36

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver; report. Establishes a process by which a local department of social services may apply for a barrier crime waiver on behalf of an individual who has been convicted of a Virginia barrier crime that (i) is not (a) included on the list of federal barrier crimes; (b) a violent felony offense; or (c) an offense requiring registration under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act and (ii) does not otherwise fall under a barrier crime exception for foster or adoptive homes for the purpose of approval of the individual's home as a kinship foster home. The bill creates a process by which such a local department of social services may apply to the Department of Social Services for a waiver and for the Department to conduct an assessment of such application. The bill also requires the Department of Social Services to file an annual report by December 1 of each year detailing the specifics of the waiver process to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services. This bill is identical to HB 632.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0648)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A) · February 27, 2026

96

Yes

0

No

3

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104727D

  2. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB305)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (10-Y 0-N 5-A)

  6. Rules suspended

  7. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  8. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  9. Passed by for the day

  10. Read second time

  11. Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendments agreed to

  12. Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  13. Passed by for the day

  14. Read third time

  15. Passed by for the day

  16. Engrossment reconsidered by Senate

  17. Floor offered Senator Pekarsky Amendments

  18. Senator Pekarsky Amendments withdrawn

  19. Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

  20. Senator Pekarsky Amendments #2-4 agreed to

  21. Reengrossed by Senate as amended

  22. Rules suspended

  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. Read third time and passed Senate (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  25. Placed on Calendar

  26. Read first time

  27. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

  28. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB305)

  29. Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  30. Committee substitute printed 26108574D-H1

  31. Read second time

  32. Read third time

  33. committee substitute rejected

  34. Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  35. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB305)

  36. Enrolled

  37. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB305ER)

  38. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB305)

  39. Signed by Speaker

  40. Signed by President

  41. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

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

  43. Approved by Governor-Chapter 648 (effective 7/1/2026)

  44. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0648)

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