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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 1282: Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners; licensure by endorsement, etc.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 1282 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners; licensure by endorsement, etc. Primary sponsor: Josh Cole (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Approved by Governor-Chapter 766 (effective 7/1/2026).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners; licensure by endorsement; licensure without examination. Directs the Board of Counseling to establish a pathway to licensure by endorsement as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner for applicants who have held certification as a certified substance abuse counselor for at least 10 years without a history of disciplinary action, have completed at least five years of documented supervised experience, hold at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of counseling, and hold a Master Addiction Counselor credential issued by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. The bill provides that such pathway to licensure by endorsement does not require examination.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Josh ColePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse65
Virgil ThorntonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse86
Rod WillettCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse58

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 766 (effective 7/1/2026)
  2. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  3. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1282)
  5. Signed by President
  6. Signed by Speaker
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1282ER)
  8. Enrolled
  9. Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
  10. Read third time
  11. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
  12. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

Showing 12 most recent of 29 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source