Skip to main content
Independent and nonpartisan. SaveYourState is a civic information resource. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any government agency, party, or campaign.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 879: Public assistance; requests for records or information concerning applicants for and recipients.

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 879 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Public assistance; requests for records or information concerning applicants for and recipients. Primary sponsor: Irene Shin (Democratic). It lists 14 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Approved by Governor-Chapter 689 (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.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 13

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Irene ShinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse8
Elizabeth Bennett-ParkerCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate39
Stacey Annie CarrollCo-sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Liz GuzmánCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse22
J.R. HensonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse19
Phil HernandezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse94
Alfonso LopezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse3
Michelle Lopes MaldonadoCo-sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Marty MartinezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse29
Adele McClureCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse2
May NivarCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse57
Atoosa ReaserCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse27
Saddam SalimCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate37
J.J. SinghCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse26
Kathy TranCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse18

“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 689 (effective 7/1/2026)
  2. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  3. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
  4. Signed by President
  5. Signed by Speaker
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB879)
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB879ER)
  8. Enrolled
  9. Passed Senate (21-Y 18-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) (37-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