Links to all bills can be found at https://vakids.org/bill-tracker  

Bills that Passed and Are Now Law 

Several key bills related to child welfare were successfully passed and signed into law during the 2025 session. These measures will go into effect on July 1, 2025, or January 1, 2026: 

• HB1777 (Del. Sullivan) – Office of the Children’s Ombudsman; foster youth’s right to receive information 
  This bill establishes the right of foster youth to receive important information, helping to ensure their participation in decisions that impact their lives.  

• HB1733 (Del. Cole) – Petitions for relief of care and custody of a child; investigation by local department of social services; Office of the Children’s Ombudsman work group; report 
  This measure strengthens the process by which petitions for relief of child custody are handled, ensuring that investigations by local departments of social services are thorough. 

• HB2457 (Del. Glass) – State Board of Social Services; regulations; application for and use of foster care benefits 
  It addresses the application process for foster care benefits, which will improve the efficiency and accessibility of the system for families and children in need. 

• SB818 (Sen. Favola) – Children in foster care; federal benefits, written notice by certified mail, notice of eligibility 
  This law ensures that foster children and their families are properly informed about their eligibility for federal benefits.  

Bills That Did Not Pass 

While progress was made, some bills faced significant opposition or were left behind in committees. The following bills did not pass, but continue to be areas of concern for child welfare advocates: 

• HB1964 (Del. Tata) – Future in Focus Program; established 
  This bill aimed to create a program to support youth in foster care with the transition to adulthood. Unfortunately, it was passed by indefinitely in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on February 11, 2024. 

• HB2613 (Del. Clark) – Child abuse and neglect; custody and visitation; possession or consumption of authorized substances 
  This bill aimed to address how the possession or consumption of authorized substances affects custody and visitation decisions. While it passed the House and Senate, the governor vetoed it on March 24, 2024. 

• HB2339 (Del. Batten) – Child in foster care; provision of certain documents; 16 years of age 
  This bill would have required the provision of specific documents to foster children at age 16. It failed to progress after being tabled in a subcommittee on January 23, 2024. 

• SB773 (Sen. Favola) – Foster care; housing services, housing plan, report 
  This bill sought to improve housing services and create housing plans for youth aging out of foster care. Unfortunately, it was left in the Appropriations Committee on February 18, 2024. 

• HB2187 (Del. Freitas) – Children’s Ombudsman; powers and duties 
  This bill, which aimed to expand the powers and duties of the Children’s Ombudsman, was left in the Appropriations Committee on February 4, 2024. 

• HB2282 (Del. Coyner) – Children’s Services Act; state pool of funds 
  This bill, which would have revised the Children’s Services Act to better allocate funds for children in need, failed to report out of the Health and Human Services Committee on January 28, 2024. 

• HB1631 (Del. Keys-Gamarra) – Foster care; DSS to establish/maintain supply of new luggage to transport child’s belongings 
  This bill, which would have provided new luggage for children in foster care to carry their belongings, was tabled in the House Appropriations Health & Human Services Subcommittee on January 29, 2024. 

• HB2340 (Del. Batten) – Department of Social Services; licensed child placing agencies; foster and adoptive provider training; reciprocity among local departments of social services and licensed child placing agencies; regulations 
  This bill aimed to improve training and establish reciprocity agreements between child placing agencies but failed after being tabled on January 23, 2024. 

2025 Budget Outcomes

• Child Welfare Workforce Retention | $500,000
• Kinship Service Expansion |  $425,750
• Federal Benefits for Foster Youth | Language only 

A Continuing Effort 

While the 2024 session brought some wins for children and families involved in Virginia’s child welfare system, much work remains. The failure of several important bills highlights the ongoing challenges and the need for continued advocacy for foster youth and children at risk. 

We remain committed to advancing legislation that ensures the safety, well-being, and success of all Virginia’s children. We will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen child welfare services and provide better support to families in need. 

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