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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 305: Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver, report.

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

SB 305 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver, report. Primary sponsor: Stella Pekarsky (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0648).

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.

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver; report. Establishes a process by which a local department of social services may apply for a barrier crime waiver on behalf of an individual who has been convicted of a Virginia barrier crime that (i) is not (a) included on the list of federal barrier crimes; (b) a violent felony offense; or (c) an offense requiring registration under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act and (ii) does not otherwise fall under a barrier crime exception for foster or adoptive homes for the purpose of approval of the individual's home as a kinship foster home. The bill creates a process by which such a local department of social services may apply to the Department of Social Services for a waiver and for the Department to conduct an assessment of such application. The bill also requires the Department of Social Services to file an annual report by December 1 of each year detailing the specifics of the waiver process to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services. This bill is identical to HB 632.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Stella PekarskyPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate36
Barbara FavolaCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate40

“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. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0648)
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 648 (effective 7/1/2026)
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
  5. Signed by President
  6. Signed by Speaker
  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB305)
  8. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB305ER)
  9. Enrolled
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB305)
  11. Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
  12. committee substitute rejected

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history

Sources

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