SB738Introduced in the Senate
Hospitals; emergency department physicians.
Introduced by Emily Brewer, District 17
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
Hospitals; psychiatric emergency departments. Allows hospitals with psychiatric emergency departments located in the City of Hampton to operate without a physician on duty when certain conditions are met, including having written agreements in place with emergency medical service providers and being immediately adjacent to a non-psychiatric emergency department. The bill requires such psychiatric emergency departments to submit treatment data to the General Assembly on an annual basis by November 1. This bill is identical to HB 1318.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0297)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A) · February 27, 2026
92
Yes
4
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
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Presented and ordered printed 26104945D
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
Senate subcommittee offered
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
Senate committee offered
Committee substitute printed 26106705D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services (20-Y 2-N)
Read second time
Read third time
Passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB738ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 297 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0297)
Verify the information
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