Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 766: Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child, family history of abuse.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 766 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child, family history of abuse. Primary sponsor: Karrie Delaney (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (November 18, 2024): Left in Courts of Justice.
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.
Custody and visitation arrangements; best interests of the child; expert testimony; history of abuse. Requires a court to consider any history of family abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, or an act of violence, force, or threat in determining best interests of a child for purposes of determining custody or visitation arrangements. Under current law, only such history that occurred no earlier than 10 years prior to the filing of a custody or visitation petition is required to be considered. The bill also requires that any expert evidence from a court-appointed or outside professional relating to any alleged abuse of a child subject to such petition shall only be admitted if such professional possesses demonstrated expertise and clinical experience in working with victims of the type of such abuse alleged that is not solely of a forensic nature. The bill further directs the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to provide mandatory judicial training on trauma-informed practices in proceedings involving domestic violence to magistrates and judges of the juvenile domestic relations district courts, general district courts, circuit courts, and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and court personnel.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karrie Delaney | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 9 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Courts of Justice
- Continued to 2025 with substitute in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
- Committee substitute posted to LIS only 24106546D-H1
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 with substitute (Voice Vote)
- House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
- Assigned Courts sub: Civil
- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104699D