Interjurisdictional Law-Enforcement Agreements; Behavioral Health Co-Response Teams
Summary
Virginia SB317, signed by the Governor on April 6, 2026 (Chapter 105), authorizes interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements to include co-response teams staffed by law-enforcement agencies responding to behavioral health-related calls across multiple jurisdictions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and passed unanimously in both chambers (Senate 40-0, House 98-0).
What changed
Virginia SB317 adds a provision to state law authorizing interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements to include co-response teams that respond to behavioral health-related calls across multiple jurisdictions. The bill specifically permits one or more law-enforcement agencies to staff such teams under formal interjurisdictional agreements.
Law enforcement agencies and local governments in Virginia should evaluate how this new authority affects their existing agreements and operational planning. Agencies seeking to expand behavioral health response capabilities beyond their jurisdictional boundaries can now establish formal co-response frameworks with neighboring jurisdictions. No compliance deadlines exist beyond the July 1, 2026 effective date.
What to do next
- Review existing interjurisdictional agreements to incorporate behavioral health co-response team provisions
- Identify potential cross-jurisdictional partners for behavioral health response agreements
- Update law enforcement operational protocols to reflect expanded jurisdictional authority for behavioral health calls
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Virginia / SB317 Signed by Governor SB317 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-06
Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; development of behavioral health co-response teams.
Interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements; behavioral health co-response teams. Provides that interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements may allow for the development of co-response teams staffed by one or more law-enforcement agencies that respond to behavioral health-related calls in multiple jurisdictions. This bill is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to HB 248.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB317
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Sponsors
Russet Perry (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 105 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-10 S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 2026-02-18 S Signed by President 2026-02-18 H Signed by Speaker 2026-02-18 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB317) 2026-02-18 S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB317ER) 2026-02-18 S Enrolled 2026-02-16 H Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-16 H Read third time 2026-02-15 H Read second time 2026-02-13 H Reported from Public Safety (20-Y 0-N) 2026-02-04 H Referred to Committee on Public Safety 2026-02-04 H Read first time 2026-02-04 H Placed on Calendar 2026-01-29 S Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-01-28 S Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-01-28 S Read second time 2026-01-27 S Passed by for the day 2026-01-27 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-01-27 S Rules suspended 2026-01-27 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-01-27 S Read first time 2026-01-27 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB317) 2026-01-26 S Reported from Local Government (14-Y 0-N) 2026-01-13 S Referred to Committee on Local Government 2026-01-13 S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102853D
Votes
2026-01-26 Reported from Local Government (14-Y 0-N) Yea: 14 Nay: 0 2026-01-27 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-01-29 Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-13 Reported from Public Safety (20-Y 0-N) Yea: 20 Nay: 0 2026-02-16 Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 98 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-13 S Local Government 2026-02-04 H Public Safety
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-13 Introduced 2026-02-18 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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