STATE BILLVA SB 738PASSED

Hospitals; emergency department physicians.

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.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: Apr 6, 2026; 220 days ago
Current chamber: Senate
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA SB 738 · PassedApr 6

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Bill details

Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0297) · Apr 6, 2026

Sponsor

EBEmily BrewerSenator · Republican · SD-017Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 6, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0297)

Apr 6, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 297 (effective 7/1/2026)

Mar 10, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

Mar 10, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Senate

Mar 4, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate

Mar 4, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse

Mar 4, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)Senate

Mar 4, 2026Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB738ER)Senate

Show 24 earlier actions

Mar 4, 2026EnrolledSenate

Feb 27, 2026Passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A)House

Feb 27, 2026Read third timeHouse

Feb 26, 2026Read second timeHouse

Feb 24, 2026Reported from Health and Human Services (20-Y 2-N)House

Feb 24, 2026Referred to Committee on Health and Human ServicesHouse

Feb 24, 2026Read first timeHouse

Feb 24, 2026Placed on CalendarHouse

Feb 22, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)Senate

Feb 17, 2026Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Feb 16, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 16, 2026Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 16, 2026Read second timeSenate

Feb 13, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 13, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Feb 13, 2026Rules suspendedSenate

Feb 12, 2026Committee substitute printed 26106705D-S1Senate

Feb 12, 2026Senate committee offeredSenate

Feb 12, 2026Reported from Education and Health with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)Senate

Feb 6, 2026Senate subcommittee offeredSenate

Feb 6, 2026Assigned Education sub: Health ProfessionsSenate

Jan 22, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)Senate

Jan 16, 2026Referred to Committee on Education and HealthSenate

Jan 16, 2026Presented and ordered printed 26104945DSenate

Recorded votes

Reported from Education and Health with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)Feb 12, 2026 · Senate · 14 yea · 0 nayPassed

Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 13, 2026 · Senate · 36 yea · 0 nayPassed

Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 17, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed

Reported from Health and Human Services (20-Y 2-N)Feb 24, 2026 · House · 20 yea · 2 nayPassed

Passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A)Feb 27, 2026 · House · 92 yea · 4 nayPassed

Read the bill at the source

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