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HB826 • 2026

Health Insurance Reform Commission; powers and duties.

An Act to amend and reenact § 30-342 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Health Insurance Reform Commission; powers and duties.

Labor
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about how often reviews will occur or what information is needed for assessments.

Health Insurance Reform Commission; Powers and Duties

This act changes the duties of the Health Insurance Reform Commission to assess proposed legislation that affects the cost of health insurance through plan design or cost sharing.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new duty for the Health Insurance Reform Commission to review proposed laws affecting the cost of health insurance through changes in plan design or cost-sharing, upon request by the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Health Insurance Reform Commission
  • People buying health insurance
  • Companies offering health insurance
  • Unions and employee welfare benefit plans

Terms To Know

Health Insurance Reform Commission
A group that looks at ways to improve Virginia's health insurance system.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify when the changes will take effect.
  • It is unclear how often the commission will review proposed legislation.
  • The exact details of what information the commission needs to assess are not defined in this summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 675 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 675 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0675)

  4. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  5. 2026-03-14 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-12 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-12 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB826)

  9. 2026-03-12 House

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-03-12 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB826ER)

  11. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Read third time

  13. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Rules suspended

  15. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  16. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  18. 2026-03-02 Commerce and Labor

    Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)

  19. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  20. 2026-02-18 Commerce and Labor

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  21. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  23. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  24. 2026-02-12 Labor and Commerce

    Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 0-N)

  25. 2026-02-10 Subcommittee #1

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

  26. 2026-01-22 Subcommittee #1

    Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1

  27. 2026-01-22 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB826)

  28. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102376D

  29. 2026-01-13 Labor and Commerce

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

Official Summary Text

Health Insurance Reform Commission; powers and duties.
Provides that it is a power and duty of the Health Insurance Reform Commission, upon request of the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, to assess proposed legislation affecting the cost of health insurance through changes to plan design or cost sharing impacting consumers, employers, unions, and employee welfare benefit plans.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend and reenact §
30-342
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Health Insurance Reform Commission; powers and duties.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
30-342
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
30-342
. Powers and duties.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. Monitor the work of appropriate federal and state agencies in implementing the provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Act), including amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder;
2. Receive information provided to the Commission pursuant to §
30-343
and, on the basis of such information, assess the implications of the Act's implementation on residents of the Commonwealth, businesses operating within the Commonwealth, and the general fund of the Commonwealth;
3. Consider the development of a comprehensive strategy for implementing health reform in Virginia, including recommendations for innovative health care solutions independent of the approach embodied in the Act that meet the needs of Virginia's citizens and government by creating an improved health system that will serve as an economic driver for the Commonwealth while allowing for more effective and efficient delivery of high quality care at lower cost;
4. Receive periodic reports from the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission (the Bureau) pursuant to §
30-343
and recommend, in accordance with the provisions of §
30-343.1
, health benefits required to be included within the scope of the essential health benefits provided under health insurance products offered in the Commonwealth, including any benefits that are not required to be provided by the terms of the Act;
5. Upon request of the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, assess proposed mandated benefits and providers as provided in §
30-343
and recommend whether, on the basis of such assessments, mandated benefits and providers be providers under health care plans offered through a health benefit exchange, outside a health benefit exchange, neither, or both;
6.
Upon request of the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, assess proposed legislation affecting the cost of health insurance through changes to plan design or cost sharing impacting consumers, employers, unions, and employee welfare benefit plans.
7.
Conduct other studies of mandated benefits and provider issues as requested by the General Assembly; and
7.
8.
Develop such recommendations as may be appropriate for legislative and administrative consideration in order to increase access to health insurance coverage, ensure that the costs to business and individual purchasers of health insurance coverage are reasonable, and encourage a robust market for health insurance products in the Commonwealth.