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Healthcare Bill Update 1/22

Healthcare

OPPOSE

Status: This bill was voted on and passed out of the House Health Subcommittee and is now on the agenda of the full House Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday 1/23.

OPPOSE: HB1552 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals

This bill would further entrench Virginia in the problems caused by the Certificate of Public Need program. It would allow certain hospitals, defined as critical access hospitals, to receive an exemption from COPN. This interference in the market place would cause inequity and continue to allow hospitals to choose winners and losers in the market of medical services. 

Please contact these Delegates and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1552.

Health and Human Services CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Delegate Mark D. Sickles(D)17(804) 698-1017[email protected]
Vice Chair: Delegate Kathy K.L. Tran(D)18(804) 698-1018[email protected]
Delegate Mike A. Cherry(R)74(804) 698-1074[email protected]
Delegate Joshua G. Cole(D)65(804) 698-1065[email protected]
Delegate N. Baxter Ennis(R)89(804) 698-1089[email protected]
Delegate Debra D. Gardner(D)76(804) 698-1076[email protected]
Delegate C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.(D)91(804) 698-1091[email protected]
Delegate Rozia A. Henson, Jr.(D)19(804) 698-1019[email protected]
Delegate Charniele L. Herring(D)4(804) 698-1004[email protected]
Delegate Geary Higgins(R)30(804) 698-1030[email protected]
Delegate M. Keith Hodges(R)68(804) 698-1068[email protected]
Delegate Patrick A. Hope(D)1(804) 698-1001[email protected]
Delegate Robert D. Orrock, Sr.(R)66(804) 698-1066[email protected]
Delegate David Owen(R)57(804) 698-1057[email protected]
Delegate Marcia S. “Cia” Price(D)85(804) 698-1085[email protected]
Delegate Phillip A. Scott(R)63(804) 698-1063[email protected]
Delegate Irene Shin(D)8(804) 698-1008[email protected]
Delegate Kannan Srinivasan(D)26(804) 698-1026[email protected]
Delegate Kim A. Taylor(R)82(804) 698-1082[email protected]
Delegate H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.(R)83(804) 698-1083[email protected]
Delegate Wendell S. Walker(R)52(804) 698-1052[email protected]
Delegate Rodney T. Willett(D)58(804) 698-1058[email protected]

Bill Update From 1/21

Status: This bill read for the third time, voted on, and passed in the Senate. This bill will be sent to the House and assigned to a House committee.

SUPPORT: SB843 – Remote Patient Monitoring

This bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop a plan and estimate costs for expanding eligibility criteria under Medicaid for remote patient monitoring for individuals with chronic conditions. These proposed changes would allow for a vulnerable demographic of Virginians, those with chronic conditions, to receive critical attention from medical professionals without further jeopardizing their health through unnecessary movement and travel. 

Regulatory Reform Bill Update 1/20

Regulatory Reform

SUPPORT

The following bill will be voted on in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee THIS AFTERNOON, 1/20.

SB1276 – Portable Benefit Accounts and Tax Deduction

This bill establishes a framework for portable benefit accounts for independent contractors and provides a state income tax deduction for contributions to these accounts. The legislation supports independent workers by creating a mechanism for flexible benefits and tax relief, allowing contractors to save for healthcare and other essential expenses while maintaining individual financial autonomy.

Please contact these Senators and ask them to VOTE YES on SB1276.

Commerce and Labor CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Senator R. Creigh Deeds (D)11(804) 698-7511[email protected]
Senator Lamont Bagby (D)14(804) 698-7514[email protected]
Senator Bill DeSteph (R)20(804) 698-7520[email protected]
Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D)39(804) 698-7539[email protected]
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523[email protected]
Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518[email protected]
Senator Ryan T. McDougle (R)26(804) 698-7526[email protected]
Senator David W. Marsden (D)35(804) 698-7535[email protected]
Senator Jeremy S. McPike (D)29(804) 698-7529[email protected]
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R)2(804) 698-7502[email protected]
Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508[email protected]
Senator Bryce E. Reeves (R)28(804) 698-7528[email protected]
Senator Aaron R. Rouse (D)22(804) 698-7522[email protected]
Senator William M. Stanley, Jr. (R)7(804) 698-7507[email protected]
Senator Scott A. Surovell (D)34(804) 698-7534[email protected]

SUPPORT

This bill will be voted on in the House Health Subcommittee TOMORROW afternoon, 1/21.

HB1555 – SUPPORT: HB1555 – Healthcare Sand Box
Requires the Department of Health to establish the Health Care Regulatory Sandbox Program to enable a person to obtain limited access to the market in the Commonwealth to temporarily test an innovative health care product or service on a limited basis. 

To see bill text and info: Click HERE

Please contact these Delegates and tell them to VOTE YES on HB1555

Subcommittee: HealthDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Delegate Patrick A. Hope(D)1(804) 698-1001[email protected]
Delegate Charniele L. Herring(D)4(804) 698-1004[email protected]
Delegate M. Keith Hodges(R)68(804) 698-1068[email protected]
Delegate Marcia S. “Cia” Price(D)85(804) 698-1085[email protected]
Delegate Irene Shin(D)8(804) 698-1008[email protected]
Delegate Mark D. Sickles(D)17(804) 698-1017[email protected]
Delegate Kim A. Taylor(R)82(804) 698-1082[email protected]
Delegate H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.(R)83(804) 698-1083[email protected]
Delegate Rodney T. Willett(D)58(804) 698-1058[email protected]
Healthcare Bill Updates 1/20

Healthcare

OPPOSE

The following bill will be voted on in the House Health Subcommittee in room C-206 on Tuesday 1/21 afternoon.

HB1552 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals

This bill would further entrench Virginia in the problems caused by the Certificate of Public Need program. It would allow certain hospitals, defined as critical access hospitals, to receive an exemption from COPN. This interference in the market place would cause inequity and continue to allow hospitals to choose winners and losers in the market of medical services. 

Please contact these Delegates and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1552.

Subcommittee: HealthDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Delegate Patrick A. Hope(D)1(804) 698-1001[email protected]
Delegate Charniele L. Herring(D)4(804) 698-1004[email protected]
Delegate M. Keith Hodges(R)68(804) 698-1068[email protected]
Delegate Marcia S. “Cia” Price(D)85(804) 698-1085[email protected]
Delegate Irene Shin(D)8(804) 698-1008[email protected]
Delegate Mark D. Sickles(D)17(804) 698-1017[email protected]
Delegate Kim A. Taylor(R)82(804) 698-1082[email protected]
Delegate H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.(R)83(804) 698-1083[email protected]
Delegate Rodney T. Willett(D)58(804) 698-1058[email protected]

SUPPORT

This bill will is on the Uncontested Second Reading Calendar for TODAY, 1/20, on the Senate Floor. It is expected to be on the Uncontested Third Reading Calendar tomorrow, 1/21, and will be voted on in a bloc.

SUPPORT: SB843 – Remote Patient Monitoring

This bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop a plan and estimate costs for expanding eligibility criteria under Medicaid for remote patient monitoring for individuals with chronic conditions. These proposed changes would allow for a vulnerable demographic of Virginians, those with chronic conditions, to receive critical attention from medical professionals without further jeopardizing their health through unnecessary movement and travel. 

CLICK HERE to find and contact your Senator and VOTE YES on SB843

Healthcare Bill Call to Action – UPDATE

HEALTHCARE

SUPPORT

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

SUPPORT: SB843 – Remote Patient Monitoring – Passed Senate Health and Education Committee with a vote of 14-Y and 0-N on January 16th.

This bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop a plan and estimate costs for expanding eligibility criteria under Medicaid for remote patient monitoring for individuals with chronic conditions. 

SUPPORT: SB910 – Phased Elimination of Certificate of Public Need – Failed through the motion to pass by indefinitely in the Senate Health and Education Committee with a vote of 13-Y and 1-N on January 16th.

This bill would establish a phased elimination of Certificate of Public Need with full elimination in 2027. 

Please contact these Senators and ask them to VOTE YES on SB843 and SB910.

Senate Committee: Education and HealthDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Senator R. Creigh Deeds (D)11(804) 698-7511[email protected]
Senator Lamont Bagby (D)14(804) 698-7514[email protected]
Senator Bill DeSteph (R)20(804) 698-7520[email protected]
Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D)39(804) 698-7539[email protected]
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523[email protected]
Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518[email protected]
Senator Ryan T. McDougle (R)26(804) 698-7526[email protected]
Senator David W. Marsden (D)35(804) 698-7535[email protected]
Senator Jeremy S. McPike (D)29(804) 698-7529[email protected]
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R)2(804) 698-7502[email protected]
Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508[email protected]
Senator Bryce E. Reeves (R)28(804) 698-7528[email protected]
Senator Aaron R. Rouse (D)22(804) 698-7522[email protected]
Senator William M. Stanley, Jr. (R)7(804) 698-7507[email protected]
Senator Scott A. Surovell (D)34(804) 698-7534[email protected]
Education Bills Update 1/20

EDUCATION

OPPOSE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

These bills will be voted on in the Senate Public Education Subcommittee on Thursday, January 16th, 30 minutes after the Senate floor adjourns in Senate Room C, Room 311, of the General Assembly Building

These bills will now be voted on in the Senate Public Education Subcommittee on TODAY, Monday, January 20th.

SB1031 – Religious Exemption for Education Requirements

Attacks the homeschooling religious exemption process by requiring parents to meet educational qualifications, submit annual notices and progress reports, and demonstrate certain instruction methods.

SB979 – Delayed implementation of new Public School Accountability System

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

SUPPORT

SB1346 – Virginia Opportunity Scholarships

The Virginia Opportunity Scholarship program is designed to give students greater access to learning opportunities that best meet their needs. 10,000 eligible K-12 students can receive $5,000 per academic year. This program is for Virginia students whose household income does not exceed $81,120 for a family of four. This scholarship puts money directly into families’ hands for expenses of attending an accredited private school in Virginia including, tuition, transportation, books, and other qualified educational expenses— such as summer school programs— so families can access the opportunities that work best for their child.

To see bill text and info: Click HERE

Please contact these Senators and ask them to vote NO on SB1031 and SB979.

Subcommittee: Public EducationDistrictPhone NumberEmail
Chair: Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (D)16(804) 698-7516[email protected]
Senator Christie New Craig (R)19(804) 698-7519[email protected]
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523[email protected]
Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508[email protected]
Senator Stella G. Pekarsky (D)36(804) 698-7536[email protected]
Election Bills Update

ELECTIONS

These bills were killed yesterday, January 13th, 2025, through the motion to table them in the House Election Administration Subcommittee.

HB 1573 – Reduces early voting to 10 days.

Proposed reducing the early absentee voting period in Virginia from 45 days to 10 days before an election. The change would have ensured that absentee voting remains available but within a more focused timeframe. It also would have reduced the administrative burden on local election offices, fostering efficient use of resources without compromising access.

HB 1574 – Early Voting Period Reduction 

Would have shortened early voting from 45 to 10 days before general elections while extending daily hours to 7am-7pm, balancing voter access with stronger election oversight. Primary elections would have maintained a 10-day early voting period.

HB1652 – Multiple Election Integrity Proposals

This bill would have required photo ID for voting, eliminated most same day voter registration, reduced early voting to 14 days, required mail in ballots to be received by Election Day and postmarked before Election Day and eliminated drop boxes.