A bill to provide oversight of Virginia recovery homes passed unanimously in the state Senate last week and survived its first hearing on the House side this morning.
Sponsored by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, Senate Bill 838 aims to improve oversight, transparency and resident rights in Virginia sober homes by 1) mandating state certification of all recovery residences and 2) establishing a workgroup under the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to improve the certification process.
This morning, Anthony Grimes, executive director of the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR), commented publicly on the bill for the first time:
While there remains ample room for debate surrounding the nature of VARR’s impact on Virginia recovery housing, Grimes’ attention to the bill’s logistical uncertainty appears merited.
If the bill in its current form (and third version) becomes law, the following would take effect July 1:
- All Virginia recovery homes would be required to obtain certification from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to legally operate. (Operating without DBHDS-certification would be a Class 1 misdemeanor.)
- Under current state regulation, such certification would require operators to obtain accreditation from VARR or a charter from Oxford House.
- DBHDS would have the authority to issue a six-month provisional certification to “any recovery residence that has indicated an intent to receive accreditation by or membership in a credentialing agency…” (a.k.a.: VARR or Oxford House), which would buy all operators until the end of the year to become fully certified.
- Meanwhile, a workgroup would convene under the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to make recommendations on redefining the certification process, which might include removing VARR and/or Oxford House as prerequisites for DBHDS-certification.
- The workgroup’s recommendations would be due to the General Assembly on Nov. 1 — two months before the earliest six-month provisional certification would expire.
The language of the bill as a whole suggests a clear intent to transition the recovery housing industry from self-oversight (via VARR and Oxford House) to state oversight. But that outcome isn’t guaranteed.
In light of mandatory certification:
Should uncertified operators spend time and money going through the current certification process with VARR or Oxford House in case the final process doesn’t change?
If the workgroup recommends removing the VARR and/or Oxford House requirement, how quickly could that change take effect? Would DBHDS have the authority to extend provisional certifications through the 2026 General Assembly session — long enough for the legislature to act on such recommendations? Or would all operators in Virginia be forced to temporarily join VARR or Oxford House by Dec. 31 to avoid criminal penalties?
I raised questions along these lines to DBHDS at the beginning of last week and have not yet received a response.
Grimes also noted that GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed budget redirected funds from VARR to DBHDS. “Without dedicated funding, VARR cannot continue in its role as the credentialing entity for recovery residences across the commonwealth,” Grimes told the subcommittee.
The money Grimes referenced is earmarked in the state budget as grants for recovery house operators — funds that VARR has been heavily distributing to organizations owned and operated by VARR leaders. Youngkin’s amendment removed the conflicts of interest by putting DBHDS in charge of administering those grants.
But part of VARR’s operational budget comes from that same pot of money, VARR President Sarah Scarbrough told me. And VARR needs that money to continue acting as a credentialing entity.
In response to Grimes’ funding concerns, VanValkenburg told the subcommittee that the money budgeted for credentialing will still end up going to VARR as long as VARR is a credentialing authority under the law.
In a vote of 8-0, the subcommittee approved the bill and recommended referring it to the House Appropriations Committee.
As a reminder, please check the Virginia Recovery Housing Bill Tracker page for day-to-day updates and information on how to weigh in.
This morning’s full hearing on SB838 is also available below.
Correction: The original post incorrectly stated that the House Behavioral Health Subcommittee advanced SB838 to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill was first reported to the full House Committee on Health and Human Services and then referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Scroll below to view investigative stories in The Parham Papers series, or visit the homepage to explore all articles, including legislative updates.
Anthony Grimes needs to step aside.
Quote: “Without dedicated funding, VARR cannot continue in its role as the credentialing entity for recovery residences across the commonwealth,” Grimes told the subcommittee. {end quote
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You think?
As an operator, I can only hope so. WE DO NOT WANT VARR AS A CREDENTIALING ENTITY.
Christa,
While we are all ecstatic over the new legislation that your blog has undoubtedly influenced, I’d love to see more of the underbelly exposed. Are you withholding additional findings because of pending investigations? It seems that you are, which is totally understandable.. the DOJ won’t allow anything public that could tip off subjects under investigation. Your audience empathizes with the victims in his case waiting for their stories to be told. I hope you will eventually tell them.
-🕶️
Hi, I know the time lapse between investigative articles can make it seem like I’ve hit the pause button, but that’s not the case. In-depth reporting on this industry is just a slow, meticulous process — especially given the layers of exploitative practices that have surfaced across multiple organizations.
There are still many more stories to come from people who’ve been impacted.
I don’t know what you mean by “victims in his case,” but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have information to share.