# Virginia HB1276: Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services.

Virginia HB1276, Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Vivian E. Watts (Democratic); status passed house, last action 2026-03-09 (Continued to 2027 in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1276-2026
- As of: 2026-10-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1276
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services.
- Status: passed house
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-03-09, Continued to 2027 in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Commerce and Labor
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (139 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services. Requires health care providers to provide a good faith estimate of the payment amount for which the patient will be responsible for such nonemergency health care service, including any fees or other charges for an item or service the patient may reasonably be expected to receive in connection with the nonemergency health care service. The bill requires the good faith estimate to include (i) description of the scheduled nonemergency health care service, (ii) the provider's standard charge for the service and any related item or service, (iii) the provider's standard charges and any contracted rates known at the time the estimate is prepared, and (iv) a statement that the estimate is not binding and the actual amount billed may differ depending on changes in the scope of services or the health carrier's processing of the claim.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vivian E. Watts (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Continued to 2027 in Commerce and Labor | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 19 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 1 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-03-09: Continued to 2027 in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-15: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107734D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-12: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (19-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1 (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102349D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145848.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145847.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139461.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139460.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087958.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087957.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145848.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145847.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139461.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139460.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087958.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087957.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1276-2026 (as of 2026-10-13).