HB 1478 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

In-person visitation; policies and procedures at certain facilities.

Summary
In-person visitation policies and procedures at certain facilities. Requires training centers operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department), hospitals, nursing homes, certified nursing facilities, hospices or hospice facilities, assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities to establish certain in-person visitation policies and procedures. The bill (i) requires that such policies and procedures include screening, personal protective equipment, and other infection control protocols for visitors; (ii) prohibits such policies from requiring the visitor to provide proof of immunization or vaccination; (iii) requires such policies and procedures to allow consensual physical contact between the visitor and the resident, client, or patient of the facility; (iv) authorizes the resident, client, or patient to designate an essential caregiver and establishes requirements related to essential caregivers; (v) requires that such policies and procedures allow in-person visitation under certain circumstances; (vi) provides that such policies and procedures may require visitors to agree in writing to follow such policies and procedures; (vii) authorizes facilities to suspend in-person visitation of visitors for violations of such agreement; (viii) requires facilities to make such policies and procedures available to the Department for review when applying for initial licensure, licensure renewal, or change of ownership; and (ix) requires facilities and the Department to make such policies and procedures easily accessible on their websites.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026
Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

210
Passed
Total votes 21
Feb 3, 2026
D Democratic14
14 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican7
7 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 3, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (21-0)
house of delegates
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26105560D
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Will Davis
Will Davis
RRepublican
VA
39