HB794 • 2026

Drug overdose and drug overdose deaths; VDH to develop plan for opioid overdose response.

An Act to direct the Department of Health to develop a strategic plan for opioid overdose response to reduce rates of drug overdose and drug overdose deaths in the Commonwealth; report.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Reaser
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specifics on how the plan will be implemented or what actions beyond planning and reporting are required of the Department.

Plan to Reduce Opioid Overdoses

This law tells the Department of Health to make a plan to reduce opioid overdoses in Virginia.

What This Bill Does

The Department of Health must create a strategic plan for reducing opioid overdose rates and deaths in Virginia.
They need to assess existing efforts to prevent, intervene in, and treat opioid problems.
The Department has to work with other state leaders and groups to make the best plan possible.
Starting November 1, 2026, they must report annually on their progress to the governor and certain committees.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use opioids and might have an overdose
The Department of Health and other state agencies

Terms To Know

Opioid Overdose Response Plan: A plan to reduce opioid overdoses and help people at risk.
Strategic Plan: A detailed long-term plan with goals and steps to achieve them.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify funding for the plan.
It is unclear what specific actions beyond planning and reporting are required of the Department.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 667 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 667 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0667)
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-12 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-11 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-11 House
Enrolled
2026-03-11 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB794ER)
2026-03-11 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB794)
2026-03-04 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-04 Senate
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-03 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-03-03 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-03 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-03 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-03 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-26 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-16 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-16 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-13 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 Appropriations
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB794)
2026-02-12 House
Read second time
2026-02-12 House
committee substitute rejected
2026-02-12 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-12 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-11 House
Read first time
2026-02-09 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-09 Appropriations
Committee substitute printed 26107377D-H2
2026-02-06 Health & Human Resources
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-06 Health & Human Resources
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-27 Health & Human Resources
Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human Resources
2026-01-27 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-01-27 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB794)
2026-01-27 Health and Human Services
Committee substitute printed 26106031D-H1
2026-01-22 Social Services
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 0-N)
2026-01-22 Social Services
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-21 Social Services
Assigned sub: Social Services
2026-01-13 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104743D
2026-01-13 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Department of Health; reduction of opioid overdose and opioid overdose deaths; report.
Directs the Department of Health to develop a strategic plan for opioid overdose response to reduce rates of drug overdose and drug overdose deaths in the Commonwealth and to provide a report on the status of such strategic plan and its implementation to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Health and Human Services and the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations, and the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1, 2026, and annually thereafter. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. This bill is identical to SB 308.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to direct the Department of Health to develop a strategic plan for opioid overdose response to reduce rates of drug overdose and drug overdose deaths in the Commonwealth; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the Department of Health (the Department) shall develop a strategic plan for opioid overdose response to reduce rates of drug overdose and drug overdose deaths in the Commonwealth. In developing such strategic plan, the Department shall (i) conduct an evaluation and needs assessment of existing opioid overdose prevention, intervention, and treatment efforts in the Commonwealth and (ii) collaborate with the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Resources, and Public Safety and Homeland Security; representatives of state agencies; and other appropriate stakeholders. The Department shall provide a report on the status of the strategic plan and implementation thereof to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Health and Human Services, the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations, and the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1, 2026, and annually thereafter.