SB 161 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.

Summary
Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans. Requires each carrier that offers a health plan in either the individual or small group market to ensure that at least one health plan in each of the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels of coverage in each rating area in the individual and small group market conform with the following: (i) a plan that offers a platinum level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $150 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; (ii) a plan that offers a gold level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $200 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; (iii) a plan that offers a silver level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $250 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; and (iv) a plan that offers a bronze level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $300 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug. The bill requires that any plans offered to meet its requirements are (a) clearly and appropriately named to aid the consumer or plan sponsor in the plan selection process and (b) marketed in the same manner as other plans offered by the carrier. The bill's provisions apply to any individual or group accident and sickness insurance policy, any individual or group accident and sickness subscription contract, and any health care plan for health care services delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on or after January 1, 2028. This bill is identical to HB 625.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 642 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The primary substantive change is the addition of a new section to the Code of Virginia to limit cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under specific health insurance plans.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on prescription drug cost-sharing limits, but it has transitioned from a proposed bill to an enacted statute.
TECHNICAL

Added the official chapter number (Chapter 642) and the specific approval date (April 13, 2026) to the text, converting the bill from a draft to an official law.

Added the formal legislative header 'An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 38.2-3407.15:9' to establish the legal citation for the new provision.

Added the operative clause 'Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia' to finalize the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 4, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
Key actions
14
Committee
9
Amendments
2
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 642 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB161ER)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 2-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Conference Report released
legislature
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
House requested conference committee
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (14-Y 6-N)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 6-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (9-Y 4-N)
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Russet Perry
Russet Perry
DDemocratic
VA
31