SB 431 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

VCU Health System Authority; changes relating to board of directors and chief executive officer.

Summary
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority; board of directors; chief executive officer. Makes several changes relating to the board of directors and the chief executive officer of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority (the Authority), including (i) reducing from 19 to 13 the number of appointed members on the boards of directors and adding the chief executive officer of the Authority as an ex officio member with voting privileges, thereby reducing from 21 to 16 the total number of board members; (ii) changing from voting to nonvoting the nature of the membership of the President of Virginia Commonwealth University (the University) on the board of directors and prohibiting rather than requiring, as under current law, the President of the University from serving as chairman of the board of directors; (iii) lengthening the terms of all members of the board of directors from three years to four years; (iv) requiring the biennial election of a chairman and vice-chairman of the board of directors, requiring such chairman and vice-chairman to have served for at least two years on the board of directors, and prohibiting any employee of the University, employee of the Authority, member of the board of visitors of the University, or legislative member from serving as chairman; (v) providing that no further action shall be taken if a majority of each of the three-member committees appointed by the board of directors of the Authority and the board of visitors of the University do not agree on the removal of the chief executive officer of the Authority within 30 days of the appointment of the committees by each board; and (vi) providing that in the event that a majority of the members of each committee do not agree on the selection or conditions of appointment of the chief executive officer within 30 days of the appointment of the committees by each board, then the process set forth in statute shall be repeated until such selection has been made or such conditions of appointment have been determined. Current law requires the President of the University to make a binding decision in the event of any such disagreement. This bill is identical to HB 1040.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill formally enacts changes to the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority's governance structure, specifically reducing the size of the board of directors from 21 to 16 members and extending board member terms from three to four years. It also clarifies the appointment and removal process for the chief executive officer, establishing a joint decision-making framework between the Authority's board and the University's board of visitors to prevent unilateral control by either entity.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority, but the applicability of the new term limits and board composition rules is set to take effect for individuals appointed on or after July 1, 2026, while protecting current board members and the incumbent chief executive officer from immediate removal.
REQUIREMENT

Reduced the total number of appointed board members from 19 to 13, while maintaining the same distribution of appointing authorities (Governor, Speaker, Senate Committee, and University Rector).

Extended the standard term of service for board members from three years to four years, with corresponding adjustments to reappointment eligibility rules.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a detailed, multi-step joint process for selecting and removing the chief executive officer, requiring agreement between the Authority's board and the University's board of visitors, with a tie-breaking role for the University President if committees cannot agree.

TIMELINE

Added transitional provisions ensuring that board members and the chief executive officer serving as of June 30, 2026, can complete their current terms before the new rules fully apply.

MODIFIED

Converted the document from an enrolled bill status to a chaptered act, indicating it has been officially signed into law and assigned Chapter 445 of the 2026 session.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 9, 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
29
Key actions
10
Committee
4
Apr 8, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 445 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB431ER)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (89-Y 6-N 2-A)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education (17-Y 3-N 1-A)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Rules (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rules
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lamont Bagby
Lamont Bagby
DDemocratic
VA
14