HB 490 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Health insurance; coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops.

Summary
Health insurance; coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops. Prohibits a health carrier from denying coverage to a covered person of an early refill of prescription eye drops if (i) the prescription eye drops are a covered benefit, (ii) the amount of time that has elapsed from the previous dispensing of such prescription would result in at least 85 percent of such prescription eye drops being used if taken consistently with the prescriber's directions, and (iii) the prescriber has indicated that additional quantities are medically necessary and the refill requested does not exceed such additional quantity. The provisions of the bill are applicable to contracts, policies, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2027.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was finalized and formatted for publication as Chapter 153 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive policy content regarding early refills for prescription eye drops remains unchanged, maintaining the same eligibility criteria, coverage requirements, and effective date of January 1, 2027.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the only difference is the transition from the enrolled draft to the official chaptered text.
TECHNICAL

The text was reformatted to include official chapter numbering, session headers, and approval dates, while the actual legal provisions were preserved.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Mar 4, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
14
Committee
10
Amendments
2
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 153 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB490ER)
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendment agreed to
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned HAPP sub: Compensation and Retirement
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 2-N)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Patrick Hope
Patrick Hope
DDemocratic
VA
1