Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB1222: An Act to amend and reenact §§ 63.2-1506 and 63.2-1516 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local departments of social services; child abuse and neglect; recorded interviews.
Status: Vetoed, May 19, 2026
Local departments of social services; child abuse and neglect; recorded interviews. Requires local departments of social services, unless otherwise demonstrated by good cause shown, to record any child welfare interview, defined in the bill. Under the bill, any person may record any communications between themselves and child-protective services personnel that take place during the course of an investigation or family assessment. Under current law, only a person who is suspected of abuse or neglect of a child and who is the subject of an investigation or family assessment may record such communications.
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §§ 63.2-1506, 63.2-1506.1, and 63.2-1516 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local departments of social services; child abuse and neglect; recorded interviews. 1. That §§ 63.2-1506, 63.2-1506.1, and 63.2-1516 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows: § 63.2-1506. Family assessments by local departments. A. A family assessment requires the collection of information necessary to 2. The protective and rehabilitative services needs of the child and family that will deter abuse or neglect; 3. Risk of future harm to the child; 4. Whether the mother o.
From the amended text, April 14, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 63.2-1506, 63.2-1506.1, and 63.2-1516 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local departments of social services; child abuse and neglect; recorded interviews. 1. That §§ 63.2-1506, 63.2-1506.1, and 63.2-1516 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows: § 63.2-1506. Family assessments by local departments. A. A family assessment requires the collection of information necessary to 2. The protective and rehabilitative services needs of the child and family that will deter abuse or neglect; 3. Risk of future harm to the child; 4. Whether the mother of a child who was exposed in utero to a controlled substance sought substance abuse counseling or treatment prior to the child's birth; and 5. Alternative plans for the child's safety if protective and rehabilitative services are indicated and the family is unable or unwilling to participate in services. B. When a local department has been designated as a child-protective services differential response system participant by the Department pursuant to § 63.2-1504 and responds to the report or complaint by conducting a family assessment, the local department 2. Obtain and consider the results of a search of the child abuse and neglect registry for any individual who is the subject of a family assessment. The local board shall determine whether the individual has resided in …