Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 735: Temporary detention; certified evaluators, sunset extended.

Temporary detention; certified evaluators; sunset extended. Extends from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, the sunset date on the current provisions of law authorizing hospitals with a psychiatric emergency department located in the City of Hampton to employ certain trained individuals to perform evaluations to determine whether a person meets the criteria for temporary detention for behavioral health treatment. The current law also requires participating hospitals with psychiatric emergency departments in the City of Hampton to submit monthly and annual reports on temporary detentions and crisis evaluations. This bill is identical to HB 1292.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals sunset on hospital use of certified evaluators for behavioral health temporary detention, extending mental health evaluation services in Hampton.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 469: Autism Competencies Checklist; positive behavior support facilitators, training.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; Autism Competencies Checklist; positive behavior support facilitators; training. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend its regulations relating to the Autism Competencies Checklist to allow positive behavior support facilitators to conduct training sessions on such competencies for direct support professionals and direct support professional supervisors who provide support for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects DMAS to allow positive behavior support facilitators to train professionals on autism competencies, enhancing care quality for developmental disabilities within healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 325: Fire Programs, Department of; development of mental health awareness training.

Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training. Provides that the Department of Fire Programs shall develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness tailored to firefighters that includes training on each subject matter set forth in current law. The bill provides the option for each fire department to use such standardized training program as guidance in developing its own mental health awareness training for its personnel. This bill is identical to SB 140.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health awareness training for fire personnel, directly supporting mental health services within first responder programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 1292: Temporary detention; certified evaluators, sunset extended.

Temporary detention; certified evaluators; sunset extended. Extends from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, the sunset date on the current provisions of law authorizing hospitals with a psychiatric emergency department located in the City of Hampton to employ certain trained individuals to perform evaluations to determine whether a person meets the criteria for temporary detention for behavioral health treatment. The current law also requires participating hospitals with psychiatric emergency departments in the City of Hampton to submit monthly and annual reports on temporary detentions and crisis evaluations. This bill is identical to SB 735.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill preserves hospital access to certified evaluators for behavioral health temporary detention, sustaining mental health emergency services without restrictions.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 37: Developmental disability waivers; financial eligibility standards, sunset repeal.

Developmental disability waivers; financial eligibility standards; sunset repeal. Repeals the July 1, 2026, sunset on provisions directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services to disregard Social Security Disability Insurance income above the maximum monthly Supplemental Security Income when determining financial eligibility for developmental disability waivers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals sunset on waiver eligibility rule, maintaining access to developmental disability services by excluding excess SSDI income from financial calculations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 195: Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding.

Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding. Includes as covered programs that are eligible for funding under the At-Risk Program initiatives to support both the physical and mental health of students in public schools, including the hiring of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. This bill is a recommendation of the School Health Services Committee and is identical to SB 33.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds health programs for at-risk students in public schools, including hiring nurses, directly enhancing educational access and student well-being through targeted support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school health programs including mental health services and nurse staffing, directly advancing student healthcare access through public school initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 38: Public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction, requirements.

Public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction; requirements. Requires each teacher and other relevant personnel, as determined by the applicable school board, employed on a full-time basis to complete mental health awareness training that addresses the needs of youth populations that are at a high risk of experiencing mental health challenges and disorders in accordance with evidence-based best practices developed by the American Psychological Association. Current law requires such teachers and personnel to complete mental health awareness training but does not contain any requirements relating to the specific topics such training must address. The bill prohibits any of its provisions or any policy adopted in accordance with its provisions from being construed to permit biased or discriminatory treatment of any youth population deemed to be at a high risk of experiencing mental health challenges and disorders.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health training for teachers addressing youth mental health needs, advancing student well-being programs in schools per APA best practices.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health awareness training for school staff addressing youth mental health challenges, directly supporting mental health services through evidence-based practices.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 33: Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding.

Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding. Includes as covered programs that are eligible for funding under the At-Risk Program initiatives to support both the physical and mental health of students in public schools, including the hiring of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. This bill is a recommendation of the School Health Services Committee and is identical to HB 195.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates existing funding for student health programs including nurse hiring, directly supporting essential public services within budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds health programs for at-risk students including nurse hiring, directly supporting student well-being and educational access in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental/physical health programs in schools including hiring nurses, directly advancing healthcare access for students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 669: Pharmacy benefits managers; requirements, application of law, report, delayed effective date.

Pharmacy benefits managers; requirements; scope; report. Requires all health insurance carriers to use the pass-through pricing model and may limit a pharmacy benefits manager from deriving income from pharmacy benefits management services provided to a carrier except for income derived from a pharmacy benefits management fee. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from (i) reversing and or resubmitting the claim of a pharmacist or pharmacy without meeting certain requirements, (ii) reducing any payment to a pharmacist or pharmacy to an effective rate of reimbursement, or (iii) retroactively denying or reducing a claim or aggregate of claims except under certain circumstances. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) to examine the practice of carriers or pharmacy benefits managers requiring or inducing covered individuals to utilize pharmacy services at an affiliated pharmacy. The Commission is required to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2027. Certain provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill incorporates SB 410 and SB 413 and is identical to HB 830.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires pass-through pricing for PBMs, prevents revenue from services beyond fees, and stops claim reversals without requirements - reducing drug costs and protecting pharmacy access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 31, 2026

HB 220: Health insurance; tobacco surcharge.

Health insurance; tobacco surcharge. Eliminates the authority of a health carrier to vary its premium rates based on tobacco use. Under current law, a health carrier may charge premium rates up to 1.5 times higher for a tobacco user than for a nonuser. The provisions of the bill apply to health benefit plans providing individual or small group health insurance coverage entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates tobacco-based premium surcharges, making health insurance more accessible and affordable for tobacco users by removing a cost barrier.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare