HB 879 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Public assistance; requests for records or information concerning applicants for and recipients.

Summary
Department of Social Services; requests for records or information concerning applicants for and recipients of public assistance; public notice required. Requires the Commissioner of Social Services to make a public notice available on the Department of Social Services' website within 10 days of receiving a request for a record or information concerning 25 or more applicants for or recipients of public assistance or child support for a purpose not directly connected to the administration of such programs. If a local department of social services receives a request for information that meets the requirements of the bill, such local department of social services is required to notify the Commissioner of such request. The bill establishes the form of such public notice and requires such notice to be made available (i) regardless of whether such information has been previously been shared; (ii) regardless of the identity of the requestor, unless such request is permitted under existing law; and (iii) even when a request is made in compliance with state and federal law and regulation.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 2 edits · Feb 26, 2026
MINOR
The bill transitioned from an 'Engrossed' draft version to the final 'Enrolled' version ready for signing. The substantive legislative text regarding public assistance record confidentiality and public notice requirements remained identical; the only changes were the removal of committee referral notes and the addition of standard formatting headers, bill numbers, and approval stamps.
TECHNICAL

Removed draft metadata including session dates, bill numbers, and committee referral history.

Added official enrolled headers, bill identifiers, and approval stamps required for final enactment.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

How they voted

360
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 39
Feb 23, 2026
D Democratic20
18 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
12
Committee
7
Amendments
2
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 689 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB879ER)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (9-Y 3-N 3-A)
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendments agreed to
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 2-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned sub: Social Services
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
1 primary · 13 co-sponsors

Sponsors