Virginia · Senate Bill 71 · 2026 Regular Session

Health Care Decisions Act; patients incapable of making informed decisions, absence of next of kin.

SB 71 Sponsored by Barbara A. Favola Withdrawn

  1. Introduced Dec 17, 2025
  2. In committee Dec 17, 2025
  3. Withdrawn  
  4. Passed the House of Delegates  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Health Care Decisions Act; patients incapable of making informed decisions; absence of next of kin. Authorizes, for purposes of the Health Care Decisions Act, the patient care consulting committee to make health care decisions for a patient incapable of making informed decisions when no next of kin is reasonably available.

Every action

17 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 9 earlier steps
  1. SenatePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101398D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Education and Health · Senate Education and Health
  3. SenateAssigned Education sub: Health
  4. SenateSenate subcommittee offered
  5. SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB71)
  6. SenateSenate committee offered
  7. CommitteeReported from Education and Health with amendment (11-Y 2-N 1-A) · Senate Education and Health11–2 vote
  8. SenateRules suspended
  9. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)39–0 vote
  1. SenatePassed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
  2. SenatePassed by for the day
  3. SenateRead second time
  4. SenateEducation and Health Amendment agreed to
  5. SenateEngrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
  6. SenatePassed by temporarily
  7. SenateRereferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
  8. CommitteeStricken at request of Patron in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N) · Senate Courts of Justice14–0 vote

Roll calls

3 recorded votes: 1 on the floor, 2 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · Full Senate

39–0
Jan 23, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 39 No 0 Not voting 1
Party not listed: 1 yes, 0 no Democrats: 20 yes, 0 no Republicans: 18 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 39

Not voting · 1

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 22, 2026 Senate Education and Health Reported from Education and Health with amendment (11-Y 2-N 1-A)
Members

Yes · 11

No · 2

Not voting · 2

 Passed 11–2
Feb 9, 2026 Senate Courts of Justice Stricken at request of Patron in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 14

Not voting · 1

 14–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 2 cosponsors: 2 Democrats.

All 2 cosponsors

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.