Virginia Action

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Healthcare Bills Update 2/6

HEALTHCARE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

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

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate Education and Health Committee TODAY, 2/6 at 8:30 am in Senate Room A.

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 Senators and tell them to VOTE NO on HB1552!

Senate Education and Health CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi (D)15(804) 698-7515senatorhashmi@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Lashrecse D. Aird (D)13(804) 698-7514senatoraird@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Lamont Bagby (D)14(804) 698-1092senatorbagby@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Jennifer B. Boysko (D)38(804) 698-7538senatorboysko@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Christie New Craig (R)19(804) 698-7519senatorcraig@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Tara A. Durant (R)27(804) 698-7527senatordurant@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Barbara A. Favola (D)40(804) 698-7540senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Christopher T. Head (R)3(804) 698-7503senatorhead@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523senatorlocke@senate.virginia.gov
Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518senatorlucas@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508senatorpeake@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Stella G. Pekarsky (D)36(804) 698-7536senatorpekarsky@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Todd E. Pillion (R)6(804) 698-7506senatorpillion@senate.virginia.gov
Senator David R. Suetterlein (R)4(804) 698-7504senatorsuetterlein@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (D)16(804) 698-7516senatorvanvalkenburg@senate.virginia.gov

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Regulatory Reform Bills Update 2/5

REGULATORY REFORM

BILL UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB2094 – High-risk artificial intelligence regulation

STATUS: STATUS: This bill passed the House yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the Senate.

This bill creates requirements for the development, deployment, and use of certain artificial intelligence systems, defined in the bill, and civil penalties for noncompliance. If adopted, this bill would establish considerable heavy handed regulations on AI development and use including requiring AI to be trained on what appears to be DEI standards. This bill Takes effect July 2026 with enforcement through the Attorney General.

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Governance Bills Update 2/5

GOVERNANCE

BILLS UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill passed the House yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the Senate.

This bill creates the Virginia Home Care Authority to oversee home care services and allows individual home care providers to unionize and collectively bargain. The bill only takes effect if Virginia enacts broader public employee collective bargaining legislation.

OPPOSE: HB2495 – Firefighter and EMS Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill passed the House yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the Senate.

This bill authorizes collective bargaining rights for firefighters and emergency medical services providers in Virginia. The legislation creates a Fire Service Cooperation Board to oversee labor relations, establishes procedures for union elections and dispute resolution, and provides binding arbitration for unresolved contract negotiations. Effective January 1, 2026.

OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees

STATUS: This bill passed the Senate yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the House.

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for public employee collective bargaining, creating a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee negotiations while maintaining critical limitations on government employee strikes. 

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Education Bills Update 2/5

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – KILLED

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System

STATUS: This bill was killed on the Senate floor on 2/4.

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 – KILLED

SUPPORT: HB2231 – Virginia Opportunity Scholarships

STATUS: This bill did not make it out of the House Appropriations Committee before the Crossover deadline.

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.

SUPPORT: HB2373 – Parents’ Rights in Education

STATUS: This bill did not make it out of the House Education Committee before the Crossover deadline.

Defends clear parental rights in public education, empowering parents to review curriculum, opt out of explicit content, know their child’s instructors, access school records, control data sharing, make medical decisions, and stay informed of counseling services. Strengthens parental oversight of their children’s education while limiting institutional overreach.

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Regulatory Reform Bills Update 2/4

REGULATORY REFORM

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2094 – High-risk artificial intelligence regulation

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill creates requirements for the development, deployment, and use of certain artificial intelligence systems, defined in the bill, and civil penalties for noncompliance. If adopted, this bill would establish considerable heavy handed regulations on AI development and use including requiring AI to be trained on what appears to be DEI standards. This bill Takes effect July 2026 with enforcement through the Attorney General.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2089!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Governance Bills Update 2/4

GOVERNANCE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill creates the Virginia Home Care Authority to oversee home care services and allows individual home care providers to unionize and collectively bargain. The bill only takes effect if Virginia enacts broader public employee collective bargaining legislation.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2089!

OPPOSE: HB2495 – Firefighter and EMS Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill authorizes collective bargaining rights for firefighters and emergency medical services providers in Virginia. The legislation creates a Fire Service Cooperation Board to oversee labor relations, establishes procedures for union elections and dispute resolution, and provides binding arbitration for unresolved contract negotiations. Effective January 1, 2026.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2495!

OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for public employee collective bargaining, creating a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee negotiations while maintaining critical limitations on government employee strikes. 

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB917!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Education Bills Update 2/4

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

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.

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB979!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Healthcare Bills Update 2/3

HEALTHCARE

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB2119!

SUPPORT: HB1904 – Nursery service provider expansion

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar for TODAY, 2/3 to receive a floor vote.

Expands healthcare access by allowing qualified nurse midwives and pediatric nurse practitioners to provide newborn nursery coverage when physicians are unavailable, with appropriate training requirements. Enables telehealth consultation options while maintaining quality standards and safety protocols. This reduces regulatory barriers and increases healthcare provider options, particularly benefiting rural areas with physician shortages.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB1904!

SUPPORT: SB1203 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the Senate Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on SB1203!

BILL UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB1724 – Medicinal Price Setting

STATUS: This bill passed the House on 1/31 and will now be sent to the Senate.

This bill would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Under this proposed legislation, the Board will be given authority to limit drug payment amounts and reimbursements to an upper payment limit amount for state sponsored and state regulated health plans, directly opposed to free market principles.

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Governance Bills Update 2/3

GOVERNANCE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates the Virginia Home Care Authority to oversee home care services and allows individual home care providers to unionize and collectively bargain. The bill only takes effect if Virginia enacts broader public employee collective bargaining legislation.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2089!

OPPOSE: HB2495 – Firefighter and EMS Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill authorizes collective bargaining rights for firefighters and emergency medical services providers in Virginia. The legislation creates a Fire Service Cooperation Board to oversee labor relations, establishes procedures for union elections and dispute resolution, and provides binding arbitration for unresolved contract negotiations. Effective January 1, 2026.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2495!

OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the Senate Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for public employee collective bargaining, creating a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee negotiations while maintaining critical limitations on government employee strikes. 

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB917!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Education Bills Update 2/3

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the Senate Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

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.

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB979!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”