DJJ; transfer of responsibility to Secretary of Health and Human Resources.
Summary
Department of Juvenile Justice; transfer of responsibility from Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to Secretary of Health and Human Resources; stakeholder work group. Directs the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to create a plan and recommended timeline for transferring responsibility for the Department of Juvenile Justice from the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. The bill requires the work group to be composed of interested parties, including representatives from civil liberty organizations, organizations engaged in the daily work of youth justice and violence prevention, formerly incarcerated persons and their families, and mental health experts. The bill directs the work group to submit its plan and recommended timeline for executing the transfer to the Chairs of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, House Committee on Public Safety, Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, and Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by November 1, 2026.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 17, 2025
Last action Mar 6, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026
How they voted
34–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 39
Feb 13, 2026
D
Democratic20
95% Yea
R
Republican19
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
lower
Mar 1, 2026
Committee
Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rules
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 4-N)
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Nov 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mamie Locke
DDemocratic
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