Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 859: Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 859 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Primary sponsor: Wren Williams (Republican). It lists 19 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (November 18, 2024): Left in Public Safety.
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.
Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Authorizes the Department of Criminal Justice Services to register and issue licenses for human trafficking investigators. The bill provides that a human trafficking investigator is a private investigator who is GSA compliant and engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and in the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2 · Republican 11
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wren Williams | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 47 |
| Jason Ballard | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 42 |
| A.C. Cordoza | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Karrie Delaney | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 9 |
| Geary Higgins | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Mark L. Earley, Jr. | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jay Leftwich | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 90 |
| Ian T. Lovejoy | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Joe McNamara | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 40 |
| Paul V. Milde | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Delores Oates | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 31 |
| David Owen | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Chris Runion | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 35 |
| Shelly Simonds | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 70 |
| Anne Ferrell Tata | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 99 |
| Kim A. Taylor | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Wendell Walker | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 52 |
| Mike Webert | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 61 |
| Bill Wiley | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 32 |
| Eric Zehr | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 51 |
“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 Public Safety
- Continued to 2025 in Public Safety (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote)
- Assigned PS sub: Public Safety
- Impact statement from DPB (HB859)
- Referred to Committee on Public Safety (Voice Vote)
- Referred from General Laws (Voice Vote)
- Referred to Committee on General Laws
- Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103810D