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HJ37 • 2026

Virginia's entitlement programs; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study and review.

<p class=ldtitle>Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study and review Virginia's entitlement programs to identify deficiencies and vulnerabilities that may allow for waste, fraud, and abuse. Report.</p>

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Wilt
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify what will happen if issues are identified, nor does it provide details about funding or distribution of the report.

Study Virginia's Entitlement Programs

This bill directs JLARC to study Virginia’s entitlement programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF to find problems that cause waste, fraud, or abuse.

What This Bill Does

  • Tells JLARC to look at how Virginia's entitlement programs work.
  • JLARC must check for issues in these programs that could lead to misuse of funds.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) will do this work.
  • State agencies involved in entitlement programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP, must help with the review.

Terms To Know

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
A group that studies how state government works to find ways to improve it.
Entitlement Programs
Government programs that provide benefits based on eligibility rules, such as Medicaid or SNAP.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not say what will happen if problems are found.
  • It is unclear how much money will be needed to complete the study.
  • There is no information about who will receive JLARC's report after it is finished.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Rules

  2. 2026-01-23 Studies Subcommittee

    Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (4-Y 1-N)

  3. 2026-01-22 Studies Subcommittee

    Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

  4. 2026-01-14 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104040D

  5. 2026-01-14 Rules

    Referred to Committee on Rules

Official Summary Text

JLARC; study and review of Virginia's entitlement programs.
Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study and review Virginia's entitlement programs, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, in order to identify deficiencies and vulnerabilities in such programs that may allow for waste, fraud, and abuse.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study and review Virginia's entitlement programs to identify deficiencies and vulnerabilities that may allow for waste, fraud, and abuse. Report.

WHEREAS, public officials have an obligation to the citizens of the Commonwealth to use the Commonwealth's resources wisely and appropriately; and

WHEREAS, good government should seek to increase efficiency and accuracy in the administration of its state programs; and

WHEREAS, deficiencies and vulnerabilities in program design, operational procedures and internal controls, and evaluation and accountability measures of state entitlement programs can allow for waste, fraud, and abuse, resulting in increased expenditures and waste of state resources; and

WHEREAS, identifying and correcting such deficiencies and vulnerabilities can result in there being more resources available to those in need, in addition to savings to the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study and review Virginia's entitlement programs to identify deficiencies and vulnerabilities that may allow for waste, fraud, and abuse. The entitlement programs subject to this review shall include, at a minimum, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

In conducting its study, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) shall (i) study past and current evidence of waste and inefficiency in the various state entitlement programs, (ii) review and evaluate the processes used in the various state entitlement programs for eligibility verification and certification of payment accuracy, (iii) examine the training and guidance provided to the personnel administering the various state entitlement programs and the mechanisms for evaluating performance and ensuring accountability, and (iv) provide actionable recommendations for improving and correcting vulnerabilities and deficiencies identified.

Technical assistance shall be provided to JLARC by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Social Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to JLARC for this study, upon request.

JLARC shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2027, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2028 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether JLARC intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.